Simona Rodano with kids from Kelly Donovan's second grade class at WE Cottle Elementary School in Tuckahoe.
Photo credit: L.Snedeker

TUCKAHOE, N.Y. -- William E. Cottle Elementary School was occupied by fairies on Friday morning - Italian fairies.

Simona Rodano, also known as La Fata Italiana, had Cottle kids singing and clapping  while learning another language. Anna Bruno, who teaches Italian to first and second graders at Cottle, praised the program as instructional and fun.

"This is great for the children," Bruno said. "They are learning a beautiful language."

The kids were too busy having fun to think about the fact that they were learning how to count in Italian, how to name colors in Italian and how to sing Italian songs.

"I really like it," said second grader Haley Pagnata. "I like the music and the fairy."

Rodano was born in Torino (Piemonte) Italy and is a musician, performer, educator and producer with more than 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. In 2006 she founded La Fata Italiana, the Italian Fairy. She is the author of all the songs and director for all the videos. She said she is currently working on a television pilot for La Fata Italiana.

"I hope she comes back again." Pagnata said.