A Magical Soup: A Comic Book Inspiring Kids to Love Nature, Food & Each Other
Set in Tuscany, Il mistero della zuppa di durvere is a beautifully illustrated comic book that follows three young friends on a whimsical quest to gather magical vegetables for a legendary soup. Created by author Stefano Tofani and illustrator Valerio Barchi, the story uses fantasy and fun to spark children’s curiosity about local food, biodiversity, and cultural connection.
Commissioned by Piana del Cibo and supported by FoodCLIC, the comic was distributed to schools across Lucca as part of a broader food education program. Co-created with teachers, nutritionists, and local partners, it’s more than a story—it's a hands-on learning experience promoting healthy habits, inclusion, and environmental awareness.
With watercolor illustrations, wordplay (Durvere is an anagram of verdure, or vegetables), and interactive elements, the comic helps kids see vegetables not as chores, but as treasures—and storytelling as a path to sustainability.
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FOODCLIC. We are connecting people, food, policy & places.
FoodCLIC is a four-year project funded by the EU. The project runs from September 2022 to February 2027. The acronym FoodCLIC stands for 'integrated urban FOOD policies – developing sustainability Co-benefits, spatial Linkages, social Inclusion and sectoral Connections to transform food systems in city-regions
