Did you know that “blob” in Italian is “macchia”? I didn’t know that either, and I am relying solely on the internet here, so I could be very wrong.

I do hope it’s right because I just translated “The Blob Book” into Italian, and now it’s full of “macchia/e.”

One of my favorite baby gifts is a picture book about a little red fish. It is a Japanese picture book that my friend translated by hand into French. (Karine translates Japanese manga into French for her work, so she knows what she’s doing!) I’m not sure the toddler realizes that when I ask her, “Où est le poisson rouge?” and she points to the red fish, that I am speaking to her in French. Maybe someday she’ll have an aha moment and tell me it’s not a poisson rouge, it’s a red fish!

This week I was in search of something to send along to my “Italian parents” who hosted me almost 20 years ago for six months of high school. When host mom Gabriella first picked me up at the train station, she didn’t speak English and I could only say “pasta,” “pizza,” and “spaghetti.” (This was also all I envisioned eating while I was there.) We spoke in French as she drove me “home” and showed me around the house for the first time.

I didn’t say much at the beginning, as I was trying to absorb as much Italian as I could. I would sit in my tiny room using my Italian-English dictionary conjugating verbs in Italian and then practice speaking with 3 year-old Pietro whose language was only slightly more advanced than mine.

Blobs were never part of my vocabulary back then, but I did absorb enough Italian eventually to be able to translate this little book (ok, ok, I did get a little help from the internet). In retrospect, it would have had some helpful messages for a high schooler who gets plopped into a different culture, where she doesn’t yet speak the language.

This was one of the first handmade books/zines that I made, as I was slowly developing a style and creative confidence as an adult. It’s still one of my favorites, and I would love to turn it into a board book one day.

Picture of front page of "the Blob book" translated as "Il Libro della Macchia."

Photo of spread that says, "feeling stressed? focus on a single blob." Translated, "Ti sent stressato? Concentrate su una singola macchia."

Photo of spread that says "Does the world feel too big? Start small. One blob at a time." Translated, "Il mondo ti sembra troppo grande? Piano, piano! Una macchia all Volta."

Photo of book that says, "Worried it's just not 100% right? Imperfect blobs are beautiful too." Translated, it says, "Hai para che non sia perfetta 100%? Anche le macchie imperfette sono bellissime.

Photo of a spread that says, "Feeling blue? I have a blob for you." Translated, it says "Ti senti gin'? Ho una macchia per te."

Photo of a picture book spread that says, "Feeling out of place? Don't worry. You'll find your blobs." Translated, it says, "Ti senti fuori posto? Non preoccuparti. Troverai le tue macchie."

Phot of spread that says, "Feeling stuck? Blob any which way!" Translated, it says, "Ti senti bloccato? Macchia in qualsiasi modo!"

Photo of a picture book spread that says, "Feeling alone? Join the blob party!" Translated, it says, "Ti senti solo? Vieni alla festa delle macchie.

Oh, I also translated the Book of Mom, which I’ve shared here before. The mom saying “MANGIA” is even more true in Italian than in English. They never really had to force me to mangia my pasta, but “mangia le verdure, Maddy!” (vegetables) was definitely one I heard many times. I do mangia my verdure now, for the record.