It’s from this combination of memory and adventure that Sweet Legacy – A Story About Nonno was born, the first children’s book by Virginia De Luca.
Daughter and granddaughter of gelato makers, De Luca set out to turn her family history into a story that could speak to younger generations.
The idea emerged almost by necessity. A few years ago, while taking part in a multicultural storytelling program run by Blacktown Council, she felt something was missing.
“I needed something visual to share with children, something that really showed who we are and our tradition,” she explains.
The concept lingered until the right opportunity came with the Let’s Go Italian program by Canterbury Bankstown Council. That became the push she needed to complete the book and pair it with gelato workshops.
The process involved late nights, family research and old photographs. “With a bit of technology, I created the book,” she says.
“The concept is simple: my grandfather’s story, our family, where we come from.”
The story centres on her grandfather, who at 17 obtained his first licence as a street gelato vendor in Messina. The licence itself appears in the book. He worked outside the cathedral, serving gelato and granita, until the war forced him to stop.
After returning, he rebuilt his life, started a family and turned gelato-making into a shared trade, with each child playing a role—including De Luca’s father, who later carried the craft to Sardinia and then Australia.
“My dad became the man he is in Australia thanks to what he learned from my grandfather,” she reveals.
De Luca herself grew up immersed in that world, first in the family shop in Sardinia, then selling gelato from a small vehicle brought from Messina.
“At four years old I was already helping the family business,” she recalls.
When the family moved to Australia in the 1990s, gelato once again became both livelihood and bridge to a new life. Businesses in Leichhardt, Bondi and later Five Dock became part of the Italian-Australian food landscape.
Today, the tradition continues through her brother, who runs The Little Gelato Cart with support from the family.
The book is aimed at children aged 6 to 10 but also serves as a learning tool. “It’s written in Italian and English, so it can help with language practice,” De Luca says.
At its core is a desire to preserve memory: “I wanted to share our story. Younger generations need to hold on to where they come from. It’s a story of family, effort and unity.”
For many Italian-Australian children, stories reflecting their heritage are rare. This book fills that gap, combining migration, craft and family ties with accessible illustrations.
The project was supported by Co.As.It., which backed the idea of combining storytelling with gelato workshops in libraries. The book is now available through Canterbury Bankstown Libraries, with plans to expand to other locations.
An unexpected highlight came when De Luca received a letter from NSW MP Stephanie Di Pasqua, congratulating her on the project.
The book has already reached beyond Sydney, with requests from family and community members in Sardinia and Sicily. “People recognise themselves in those images,” she says.
For De Luca, this is only the beginning. She is now considering a series of books exploring further episodes from her grandfather’s life.
“This is not just a book,” she says. “It’s a way to teach, to connect generations and to keep our story alive.”
