A bilingual Sicilian-English children’s book celebrating family, language, and cucuzzas.
COMING MARCH 2027
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press
Meet Ross and Nanny Jenny
Ross is a curious young boy from New Orleans who enjoys attending Sicilian-American community events with his family, especially the annual Saint Joseph’s Day Feast. Surrounded by music, food, and conversation, he often hears adults speaking Sicilian—a language that feels familiar but that he can’t understand.
One summer, Ross goes to stay with his grandmother, Nanna Jenny, in Independence, Louisiana, a stronghold of Sicilian language and culture. As they garden, cook, and share stories together, Ross begins to learn his family’s heritage and language.
Meet the authors
Nick Panzarella and Chelsea Shannon both have family roots in Louisiana. Based in Houston, Texas, they are raising their son in Sicilian, Italian, and English.
Nick Panzarella is the president of the American branch of Cademia Siciliana. He studied linguistics at Tulane University and brings his experience of working with many language communities to the work of keeping the Sicilian language alive for future generations. He believes that languages are a treasure, and that anyone can reclaim their heritage language.
Chelsea Shannon is an arts educator, writer, and media producer. She once wrote a college-level textbook, but has since decided that writing for children is much more fun.