Maria Campanella has made a living selling ice cream from her truck for more than 25 years but these days she is also offering a bit of wisdom along with scoops of vanilla and chocolate.
Campanella, known throughout the Bensonhurst community where she lives by her nickname, “Maria The Ice Cream Girl,” has branched out into children’s literature. Her self-published book, “Maria The Ice Cream Girl,” came out last month.
The book, which is illustrated by Ardor Cardinal, contains colorful drawings of a character based on Campanella, as well as a character based on her dog “Chicken,” and her famous ice cream truck. Campanella wrote the story.
“It’s based on me and the kids I come across on my route but there are parts of it that are from my imagination,” she told the Brooklyn Eagle during a recent interview in her home.
The lead character in the book is named Maria The Ice Cream Girl.
The book tells the story of “Junior,” a little boy on Campanella’s ice cream truck route who is diagnosed with cancer. Maria The Ice Cream Girl suggests that the kids in the neighborhood help “Junior.” But the children are reluctant. “He’s a bully. They don’t want to help him because he bullied them in the past,” Campanella told the Eagle.
Maria The Ice Cream Girl urges the children to open their hearts and find a way to help “Junior.”
“We have to find it deep in our hearts to help Junior. We all make mistakes, but sometimes, with a little love, we can fix them. Believe me, helping those in need is one of the best things you can ever do in life,” she tells the kids.
Maria The Ice Cream Girl organizes a fundraiser for “Junior” in a local park and he is so touched, he pledges to treat people with kindness from that point on. The children learn a valuable lesson about charity and generosity, according to Campanella. “We were put on this earth to love and help one another. That’s the point of my book,” she told the Eagle.
Campanella, who started out on the ice cream truck at the age of 19, worked alongside her late father, Angelo “Chubby” Campanella, for many years. “Chubby” eventually handed the business over to her.
“He was a generous person and he taught me to be generous, too. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone,” she said. Angelo Campanella died in 2009. Last year, the city officially renamed the corner of 21st Avenue and 77th Street in his memory.
Maria Campanella, a former member of Community Board 11 in Bensonhurst, said she took her father’s lessons to heart and has always tried to help people when she could. Over the years, she has organized numerous fundraisers for various local charities.
Bensonhurst residents who read “Maria The Ice Cream Girl” will probably get a kick out of the depiction of the fundraiser. Signs containing the names of famous local stores like Queen Anne Ravioli and Lioni’s Deli are prominently featured in the drawings.
Campanella said she plans to donate copies of her book to children’s hospitals.
She was the guest of honor last month at a book release party at Café Venezia on Avenue U in Gravesend. “It was fabulous,” she told the Eagle. “Queen Anne Ravioli catered it. We had three big tubs of ice cream. We had a hot pink carpet. We did it up big. I had lines out the door.”
“Maria The Ice Cream Girl” is available on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble and other websites.
