Big Anthony: His Story [Paperback]

Tomie dePaola (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Picture Puffins

Fans of Tomie dePaola's kindly Strega Nona will love this charming look at the early days of her good-hearted but clumsy helper Big Anthony. From the day he is born, Big Anthony never pays attention. As a boy, he leaves the gates of the farm open and all the animals escape. As a young man off to make his fortune in the world, he accidentally "fixes" the leaning Tower of Pisa. Will Italy survive the hilarious mishaps of Big Anthony?

"Readers of all ages can be grateful that dePaola continues to practice his magic so well."
-The New York Times Book Review
"Big Anthony and Strega Nona certainly qualify as celebrities in the realm of picture books, and this latest installment will bring smiles to the faces of their young fans."
-School Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

PW's starred review of this companion volume to Strega Nona: Her Story said, "Readers will find much to chuckle at, and kids will likely flip back to the start of the book, to relive bumbling Big Anthony's early life all over again." Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Big Anthony, hapless helper of the good Italian witch Strega Nona, didn't begin his bumbling ways when he caused pasta from a magic pot to engulf the medieval Italian city of Calabria. He has bumbled from birth, and those mishaps have been recorded in this latest installment in the saga. This second prequel to Strega Nona: An Old Tale (S & S, 1975) is less folkloric and more biographical than the original. As in Strega Nona: Her Life (Putnam, 1996), dePaola documents the path that brought the two together. A bit long and perhaps a wee bit obscure for the preschoolers who haven't met the characters before, the text is well balanced with trademark dePaola illustrations, which provide comic visual punch lines to each episode. If the familiar cartoons are a bit looser in execution, the palette, with rosy Italian skies and even a volcano eruption, is more vivid than ever. Big Anthony and Strega Nona certainly qualify as celebrities in the realm of picture books, and this latest installment will bring smiles to the faces of their young fans.
Sue Sherif, Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, AK
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698118936
• ISBN-13: 978-0698118935
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 4.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big Anthony is back for a funny, bumbling biography., October 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Anthony: His Story (Hardcover)

Since 1976 Big Anthony has been entertaining children both in Strega Nona (which won a 1976 Caldecott Honor) series books, and in his own books. The newest addition is the funniest book yet and takes me back to my childhood days. Big Anthony is back at his best and kids will love this book. dePaola has another winner in this series!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and beloved by all my children, March 27, 2010

By 

ME "minimom" (burlington WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Anthony: His Story (Paperback)

I have 3 kids, aged 11, 7, and 4. They all love the Strega Nona series of books, with Big Anthony being in the "must have top 3" set. This, along with Strega Nona, and Strega Nona Her Story, is a must own! We all still giggle at the funny antics and drool at the fabulous illustrations.
DePaola is my favorite children's author and illustrator, by far!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Big Anthony: His Story, August 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Anthony: His Story (Paperback)

This story in the "Strega Nona" series tells of the "origin" of Big Anthony- from his birth to his joining up with Strega Nona. On his journey to find his fortune (his family kicked him out because he did everything wrong and wouldn't listen :) ), he straightens up the leaning tower of Pisa, he visits Firenze and Roma, where he disrespected the cardinal, and Napoli, where he witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

This is a wonderful picture book, and a really great edition to the incomparable Strega Nona series!