Lo spirito del bosco

One day, Ms Decrestina assigns the children in her class a challenging task: they have to write a report on a Ladin legend. Toni and Margrit want to do something different from their classmates, so they decide to make one up themselves. So as not to make mistakes, they ask Toni’s grandfather to help, a skinny old man with a long beard, who looks like an elf from a stone pine tree and who knows many tales. Indeed, it’s none other than grandfather Tita who suggests they start their research with the varvarel, a small creature of the woods that’s shy, cunning and collects stolen hats. Enthusiastic, the two kids get to work immediately, sketching an accurate portrait of the varvarel: small eyes, big feet, fur everywhere, greedy for berries and an excellent skier, particularly on off-piste runs in fresh snow. But sometimes, getting wrapped up in a legend can be dangerous. In the blink of an eye, the mountain transforms into a trap for Toni and Margrit: what if the only way to save themselves is to believe in the impossible?
From an award-winning author, a story inspired by the old legends from Trentino.