The Spaghetti Banditos
A heartwarming bedtime adventure of courage, honesty, and a life lesson learned.
In the hillside town of San Leo, Italy, three hungry brothers set out to find work and help feed their family. But when a giant pot of spaghetti goes missing from Mr. Pacelli's restaurant, Rico, Tico, and Nimo find themselves swept into an unforgettable adventure filled with rushing water, a rickety bridge, a spaghetti rope swing, and one very important lesson about doing the right thing.
by Robert Howsare
A bedtime story with adventure, heart, and a good message
The Spaghetti Banditos is more than a silly story about three boys and a giant pot of spaghetti. It is a story about family, hunger, temptation, honesty, courage, forgiveness, and learning that the right path is not always the easiest one.
- • Written for children ages 3–8
- • Ideal for bedtime reading and family story time
- • Warm watercolor-style illustrations
- • A gentle lesson about honesty and responsibility
- • Memorable characters children can follow into future adventures
- • A story that invites conversation without feeling preachy
When a pot of spaghetti disappears, an adventure begins
Rico, Tico, and Nimo are trying to help their family. Their father is injured and cannot work, their mother is worried, and their little sisters are hungry. The boys go into town hoping to find jobs, but no one has work for them. Then they smell something wonderful coming from Mr. Pacelli's restaurant. A giant silver pot of spaghetti and meatballs sits on the stove. The boys know taking it is wrong. But they are hungry, desperate, and thinking about their family. What happens next becomes a story they will never forget.
Meet Rico, Tico, and Nimo
Rico
Thoughtful, expressive, and brave, Rico often speaks from the heart. When the boys get into trouble, Rico is the one who tries to explain the truth.
Tico
Energetic, loyal, and quick to act, Tico follows his brothers into the adventure and helps when things become dangerous.
Nimo
Determined and daring, Nimo holds tight to the pot of spaghetti even when the rushing water carries him toward danger.
A story that opens meaningful conversations
Children understand stories much more than lectures. The Spaghetti Banditos gives parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians a simple way to talk about important questions.
"What should you do when you make a bad choice?"
"Why is telling the truth important?"
"Can someone do something wrong for a reason that still matters?"
"How do we make things right? What does it mean to earn trust?"
A story born at bedtime
Robert first told The Spaghetti Banditos as a made-up bedtime story for his daughter more than 20 years ago. Years later, the story returned when he began telling bedtime stories to his son.
Over time, the characters became like old friends, and the story grew into the illustrated book families can now enjoy together.
Scenes From the Book
What Readers Are Saying
"A warm, adventurous bedtime story with a meaningful lesson. My kids ask for it every night!"
Sarah M.
Parent
"The kind of story children ask to hear again. The illustrations are beautiful and the message is so important."
David L.
Teacher
"A fun way to talk about honesty, responsibility, and forgiveness. A must-have for any classroom library."
Emily R.
Librarian