The Journey Of The Blue Arrow by Gianni Rodari. Short summary

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In Italy, on New Year’s Eve, the fairy Befana gives presents to children. But only rich children whose parents can pay for the toys get the presents. The boy’s mother Francesco had no money.

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Poor boy Francesco has been dreaming all year about the Blue Arrow toy train. But his mother has no money, and she has not yet paid off the fairy for last year’s gift.

The toys from the greedy Befana’s store found out about Francesco’s dream and decided to give themselves to the poor children. Everyone got into the Blue Arrow and drove around town looking for the boy. The fairy and her maid, Teresa, thought they had been robbed and set off in pursuit of the kidnappers.

The Blue Arrow train and its passengers had many obstacles to overcome along the way. When the train met a poor child, one toy was left with him.

And Francesco happened to see real thieves climbing into the fairy store. The boy saved the store from thieves and the fairy took him to work as a clerk. Here he finds his best friend, raggy dog Button, who miraculously became a live puppy.

And the Blue Arrow was left with Roberto, the son of the switchman. The boy saved a real train from derailing in a snowstorm.