Customer Reviews

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona

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This is another wonderful book by Tomie de Paola - simple but powerful message, beautiful illustrations, great story. As usual, wise Strega Nona teaches Big Anthony (and us) an important lesson.

For Italian-American families (and anyone interested in other cultures), there is the added bonus of having a number of Italian words and Christmas traditions included in the story - from baccala to zampognari. It is great to be able to share these things with our children. And hey, if Strega Nona likes it, can baccala (dried codfish) be all that bad?

I highly recommend other Tomie de Paola Christmas books: The Legend of Old Befana, Jingle the Christmas Clown, and The Clown of God.

I love this book. My family always reads this book when christmas is coming up. This book is about Strega Nona getting ready for christmas. She has everything ready, but then something happens. To find out read this book. If you like this book also read another christmas book called The Poinsetta by Tomie De Paola.

This is a great Christmas story from Tomie dePaola, author of the Strega Nona series. If you have not read Strega Nona yet, I would recommend that you start with that book, so that you are familiar with the characters and all the personality traits that they possess--especially Big Anthony. But, even of you have not read the original book, you will still enjoy the heartwarming Christmas story that focuses more on the meaning of Christmas than your typical Christmas stories that focus on gifts, Santa, and reindeer.

Strega Nona always hosts the entire town at her home for a Christmas celebration, and refuses to use her "magic" to get her work done during the holiday season, because she just does not think it is the right thing to do. As the season progresses throughout the Advent, Big Anthony is supposed to be going to town to buy things to help prepare for another Christmas celebration. But, along the way he gets "sidetracked" and Strega Nona fears that Christmas will be ruined because he has failed to get the items she needs to prepare for her dinner. I don't want to give away the rest of the story, but rest assured, that the true meaning of giving is told, and children will learn a gentle lesson about the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas.

I got this book from my local library whiloe searching through the Tomie dePaola section, but plan to buy my own copy so that we have it to ready every year during the Christmas eason. You and your children will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) is getting her house ready for the Christmas Eve feast, she gives every year to the people of Calabria. In fact she not the only busy that she needs help, Bamblolona helps her father the baker out at his bakery, because the people of Calabria has been asking for special cakes and cookies. That the baker can't find time to sit in the square with his friends. And Strega Nona doesn't have time to cure headaches, make love potions and get rid of warts. Every day she sends out her dishonest helper Big Anthony to get something for her. And every day he has to change the water to be nice and soft and not too salty for the Christmas stew. And Big Anthony keeps asking Strega Nona to use her magic to do it. And she keeps answering him, "No Magic at Christmas Time". Read the book to see if Strega Nona gets the food ready in time for the feast.

The whole family is still in total delight experiencing this absolutely stunning pop up book. We all loved it, especially the grandbaby.

Strega Nona is making a feast for Cristmas.But Big Anthony didn't get all the stuff.Strega Nona is sad because the town isn't going to have the feast.But Strega Nona doesn't know that Big Anthony has a big surprise just for her!

My daughters enjoy the Strega Nona stories, they are a fun read and very compelling. However I do believe that Strega Nona should be Nonna with two ns, otherwise you get the Ninth Witch instead of Grandma Witch.

I have found the Strega Nona Stories as not only a teaching tool, but stories that are entertaining to children (as well as adults)& will follow in the worldly reputation of Dr Seuss.

Don't you love secrets and surprises, especially if you're in on them? In "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona" the reader is NOT part of the secret or surprise, but that's OK. When you discover it, your heart will smile anyway.

It is time to prepare for the great feast Strega Nona--Grandma Witch--has at her house every Christmas. Strega Nona has no family, so she makes the whole town her family on this blessed day.

As she goes through each step of cleaning the house from top to bottom, she sends Anthony, her young assistant, into town to buy various necessary things. He mumbles and grumbles and wants her to use her witch's magic to--abracadabra--to make things happen. Strega Nona reminds him: No magic during Christmas.

This back and forth goes on for days--Anthony seems a bit lazy--and complains to the townspeople. In fact, he forgets the most important items--food supplies--for Strega Nona to cook the feast. But what happens on Christmas Day is the most lovely surprise for our Strega Nona, a well-kept secret that morphs into a happy surprise.

All you need is the real magic of Christmas. Tomie dePaola has created one of those enduring Christmas classics with the beloved Strega Nona. Another is The Legend of the Poinsettia.

"Merry Christmas, Strega Nona" is an amazing book! Written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola, it's exciting and will keep you curious as to what happens next! Strega Nona is throwing a feast for all the people in her town, but will she have all the things she needs and have them ready by Christmas Eve? Read this book to find out!