An Apple a Day - by Michela Tartaglia (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

How do you say "A leopard never changes its spots" in Italian?

Discover the curious origins of 25 colloquial sayings from English, Spanish, French, and Italian--some of them are nearly identical in each language, while others are different in surprising ways.

A boldly colorful book for language lovers about similarities and differences among the four most-spoken languages in the world.

The 25 idioms featured in this book can be expressed in all four languages, but some expressions are nearly identical while others are wildly different from each other in surprising and funny ways.

Multilingual author Michela Tartaglia wrote this book after moving to the US: researching and understanding these "mirror idioms" offered her a sense of kinship across her four spoken languages and helped combat the loneliness of living in a new place.

Whether you speak Spanish, English, French, or Italian, you probably know you're not supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth. But why it is phrased that way might surprise you! Discover the evolution of these curious colloquialisms in a full-color illustrated, highly giftable package--perfect for expats and those with a deep love of words.

About the Author

MICHELA TARTAGLIA is a native Italian, born in the province of Turin, Piedmont. She moved to Seattle for a sabbatical year in 2006 after completing her master's degree in philosophy at Alma Mater Studiorum--University of Bologna, and has since made Seattle her adopted city. Her passion for linguistics and languages is captured in her first book An Apple a Day, first published in Italy by Nomos Edizioni. She cofounded Pasta Casalinga, an intimate lunch spot in the heart of Pike Place Market. Her recipes for Pasta Casalinga inspired her second book, the cookbook Pasta for All Seasons. She lives in Seattle with her two daughters, Viola Rosa and Eva Luna.

DANIELE SIMONELLI is a full-time freelance illustrator based in the eternal city of Rome, from where he has fought against the use of clipart for ten years and counting, and has created work for editorial, advertising, and design industries with international clients.