Things to bring an American tween from northern Italy

October 31, 2024 4:11 PM

I’m going to northern Italy without my fourth grader. What should I bring back for her?

Kid likes cool dresses and snacks, is a voracious reader, and is fully embracing the witchy tween vibe. What regional things should I bring back for her (besides, obviously, some real European Kinder Eggs)?

posted by centrifugal to Travel & Transportation around Milan, Italy (2 answers total)

chocolate, yo.

A cool leather bag.
posted by wenestvedt at 6:40 PM on October 31 [1 favorite]

If you think she might enjoy a book that'll allow her to travel to the region with you (in her mind): Inkheart. She won't like it if she's very sensitive because there is some peril. It's a great series though. Talks about loving books, wonderful characters, brave and smart heroine, definitely a good dose of witchy vibes because the setting is part modern-day Italy, and part medieval fantasy world. Here's some reviews, many of which claim it's "slow". I think that's probably a reflection on modern attention spans. I definitely felt like it was packed full of action.

For snacks, maybe nougat could be something special? If she's not a picky eater, I'd also recommend salsa di noci, which is a type of walnut pesto. It's not spicy or bitter, so if she's into pasta and slightly adventurous, she'll probably like it.
posted by toucan at 6:50 PM on October 31