A Marble Story

"From 1501 to 1505, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti both lived and worked in Florence. Leonardo was a charming, handsome fifty year-old at the peak of his career. Michelangelo was a temperamental sculptor in his mid-twenties, desperate to make a name for himself. The two despise each other."--Front jacket flap.

A Funny Marble is on the Run! When a little red marble draws himself a face, arms and legs, there's no telling where he will go. This cute little book tells the story of a little marble and his big adventures. Little ones will be ready for bed at the end of the day (just like marble) with this sweet story. This book is part of the Kika's First Books series, created by Altan for his young child. Kika's First Books are celebrating their 40th anniversary with new publications in English after being loved in Italy for generations. These sweet little books make excellent read alouds for the youngest listeners. Kika's First Books explore common childhood themes and experiences and are lots of fun for little ones. Xist Publishing is proud to present the Kika's First Books to a new generation of children. By bringing beloved stories from diverse cultures to new audiences, Xist Publishing celebrates childhood in all its beautiful forms. We hope your children will enjoy these stories and discover a lifetime love of reading and love for all the people and creatures of the world.

Once the wood-carver shared his joy in A Marble Story, many people searched for him to share how his joy brought them joy in their lives.

This is a story of a young boy who is found to be ill. His family wants to bring joy to his life and make great memories. These memories are shared with the wood-carver from book 1 and 2.

Sylacauga—Alabama’s “Marble City”—is blessed with an abundant natural resource that nurtures both its economy and its cultural heritage. Thirty-five miles long, at least four hundred feet deep, and more than a mile wide, the Sylacauga Marble Belt yields crystalline white marble frequently compared to the Parian marble treasured by Greek sculptors and the Italian Carrara marble often chosen by Michelangelo. Artisans have quarried Sylacauga marble for tombstones since the early 1800s, and architects prized it for years as dimension stone for buildings like the United States Supreme Court. In the early 1900s, Giuseppe Moretti and Gutzon Borglum both chose this marble for magnificent sculptures. When granite, better able to withstand industrial pollution, overtook marble as the preferred architectural stone in the 1930s, Sylacauga’s quarry owners shifted their focus to the production of ground calcium carbonate (GCC), a fundamental ingredient in manufactured products from toothpaste, foodstuffs, and disposable diapers to paints, caulks, and sealants. Many cringe at the idea of blasting and grinding marble into fine powder, but GCC is a vital factor in the local economy. Thankfully, the Magic of Marble Festival, first held in 2009, has revitalized interest in the artistic value of Sylacauga marble, inspiring sculptors from across the United States and masters from Italy to apply their skills to cream-white blocks of this beautiful stone and share their creativity with thousands of residents and visitors each year. This is the story of quarry pioneers, investors, artists, and artisans. It's also the story of their families, who fondly remember their lives along the edge of “the hole” that provided for them.

This is the story of how a lonely person found joy in his daily walks. Finding new marbles every day showed him the hidden joy all around us.

A box of possessions. A father with no memory. A daughter with just one day to piece together the past.