When we first launched our blog, our mission was simple: to visit Nonnas and Nonnos in our community, capturing cherished family recipes and age-old gardening wisdom. What we didn’t expect was how deeply we—and our growing social media audience—would be moved by the personal stories behind the food. It wasn’t just about the recipes; it was about the remarkable lives of the Nonnas and Nonnos who shared them.
We became captivated by their memories: childhoods in Italy, the courageous journey to a new country, the hardships they endured, the joys they experienced, and the immense pride they felt in the lives they built for their families after immigrating. With each story, our curiosity grew—we wanted to hear more, learn more, and preserve more.
That desire became especially urgent when my (Anna’s) parents began facing serious health challenges. We suddenly felt the weight of time and the need to ask every question we had ever wanted to ask—to preserve their story not only for ourselves but for future generations. What began as personal interviews soon grew into a labor of love involving hours of conversations, video recordings, and photographs.
Through this process, we realized how overwhelming it can be to know where to begin. That’s why we created The Legacy Guidebooks—a series designed to make it easier for others to document the stories of their loved ones. These books provide a thoughtfully organized timeline of questions based on those we ask in our interviews. When completed, they offer a detailed and meaningful account of a parent’s or grandparent’s immigrant journey—an invaluable keepsake for generations to come.
The children’s versions include engaging activities, opportunities to learn Italian vocabulary, and kid-friendly prompts that help young readers connect with their Nonna or Nonno in a fun and meaningful way.
Our titles include:
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The Story of My Nonna: A Guide to Recording Your Nonna’s Immigrant Journey (also available in a children’s version)
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The Story of My Nonno: A Guide to Recording Your Nonno’s Immigrant Journey (also available in a children’s version)
