La collaborazione di Gianni Rodari al "Corriere dei piccoli"

Gianni Rodari’s creativity in children’s literature developed steadily throughout the 1960s, until it peaked in 1970. This paper explores Rodari’s literary production in writing and rewriting. Rodari’s work for the Italian children’s weekly magazine “Corriere dei Piccoli” explores the short stories and rhymes that would eventually become his most famous books for children: Favole al telefono (1962), Libro degli errori (1964), La torta in cielo (1964), Gip nel televisore (1967), Venti storie più una (1969). A comparison between the texts published for the magazine and those published as books suggests that Rodari’s work to refine his literary style is closely related to the development of his ideas on education and childhood. His subtractive writing process is characterised by an accurate choice of vocabulary, and a selection of rhetorical figures and puns. Rodari’s synthesis in education pulls together literature and ethical-social commitment, moving beyond any ideological contrast.