★The Black Sheep is a character created in 1995 by Andrea Valente. Its concept is the opposite of the usual idea of black sheep, considering difference a value instead of a fault. It is a trade mark registered. Its public is made of people (male and female) 12 to 99 years old. Born in 1995 on a greeting card, it soon became very popular, thanks to the school agenda - that became a cult object - and several italian companies produced merchandising objects, such as T-shirts and other clothing; stationery and school objects; paper objects.

★In 1999 Andrea Valente wrote the first book with his character (A Year as a Black Sheep), published by Fabbri Editori, that later published two more books:
Signed by the Black Sheep and 365 Good Reasons for Being a Black Sheep and Being Proud of it, that is actually the expression of its philosophy. Andrea Valente is now working on the history of the world, as seen with a Black Sheep eyes, considering those who are usually kept aside, such as the Woman of Neandertal. The concept is that only if you are different - and therefore a Black Sheep - you will be remembered in the history. During the years the character was used also for social purposes, in projects with Emergency and a jail for minors.

★The series won the Andersen Prize for the best educational books.

The series includs 5 books:
One year as a Black Sheep
Black Sheep me too
Signed by the Black Sheep
365 good reasons for being a Black Sheep and being proud of it
The incredible and adventurous life of the Black Sheep, in her own words

365 Good reasons for being a Black Sheep, is a sort of handguide for whoever doesn’t want to be the same as someone else. It is a collection of short (and very short) stories, one for every day, and the result is that the real reason for being a Black Sheep (with capital B and capital S) is that you need no reason at all. Once you take conscience of it your life will change in a positive way.

Andrea Valente is a beloved children’s author. His earliest published works were
comic strips in the “New York Times”, back in 1990. Since then he has written and
illustrated more than twenty books that won him several prizes awards, including
the Italian Andersen prize 2007