★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

One day, in the flock, a black sheep was born.
«Well?!» Exclaimed mother sheep, but it was not just a simple well, yet a well, as to say what are you looking at?!

«Well...» Muttered some old sheep, not much keen on innovation and even less accustomed to transgression.

And again it was not just a well, though not even an interrogative well, but a well suggesting that something might be wrong.

«Well!» Cried in a chorus all other sheep, and it was hard to distinguish between the well, said just to repeat what the old sheep said, the well as to say I did not understand, and the typical well of those who follow the flock.

«It is not black, it is just dark.» Some tried to specify. «Maybe it is because it was born in the night, poor....» Mumbled another. «Yes, yes, it is black!» Confirmed mother sheep, and it is strange how sometimes, with the same words, you can mean two opposite things. Yes, because for her the lamb was black, but also beautiful, scented, with a nice muzzle and a soft tale.

What more could she ask?

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.