How many books has Gianni Rodari written?

Gianni Rodari published 6 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.

What order should I read Gianni Rodari's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Telephone Tales.

What is Gianni Rodari's last book?

Grammaire De L'imagination (1973).

What is Gianni Rodari's most famous book?

Telephone Tales (1965) is Gianni Rodari's most widely read book.

Which Gianni Rodari books have been adapted?

2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Gelsomino in the Country of Liars (as The Miracle Voice of Gelsomino, film, 1977) and The Adventures of the Little Onion (as Cipollino, film, 1961).

Gianni Rodari books in order

Italian writer and journalist

Lived: 1920–1980
Country: Italian Social Republic
Books: 9

Children's books

Gianni Rodari published 6 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 other books, beginning with Gelsomino in the Country of Liars (1958). The best-known is Telephone Tales (1965).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Gianni Rodari

Start here
Telephone Tales
Gianni Rodari's most-read book.

Standalone novels in order

Gelsomino in the Country of Liars (1958)
Adapted for film
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The Adventures of the Little Onion (1959)
Adapted for film
Buy
The Cake in the Sky (1966)
Buy
Grammaire De L'imagination (1973)
Buy
The Book of Whys (1984)
Buy
Lamberto Lamberto Lamberto (2011)
185 pages
Buy

Short story collections in order

Fairy Tales Over the Phone (1962)
Buy

Other books in order

Telephone Tales (1965)
108 pages
Buy
The Grammar of Fantasy (1996)
139 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

The Miracle Voice of Gelsomino (1977)Film · from Gelsomino in the Country of Liars
Cipollino (1961)Film · from The Adventures of the Little Onion
Chipollino (1973)Film · from The Adventures of the Little Onion

About Gianni Rodari

Giovanni Francesco "Gianni" Rodari was an Italian writer and journalist, most famous for his works of children's literature, notably Il romanzo di Cipollino. For his lasting contribution as a children's author, he received the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1970. He is considered Italy's most important 20th-century children's author, and his books have been translated into many languages, though few have been published in English.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Gianni Rodari FAQ

How many books has Gianni Rodari written?: Gianni Rodari published 6 novels, 1 short story collection and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Gianni Rodari's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Telephone Tales.
What is Gianni Rodari's last book?: Grammaire De L'imagination (1973).
What is Gianni Rodari's most famous book?: Telephone Tales (1965) is Gianni Rodari's most widely read book.
Which Gianni Rodari books have been adapted?: 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Gelsomino in the Country of Liars (as The Miracle Voice of Gelsomino, film, 1977) and The Adventures of the Little Onion (as Cipollino, film, 1961).