Strega Nona Meets Her Match (Paperstar) [Mass Market Paperback]

Tomie dePaola (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Paperstar

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite the seven-year absence of Strega Nona (last seen in Merry Christmas, Strega Nona ), her faithful fans won't be fooled by the pessimistic title of her new adventure: this witch has more than one potion up her sleeve. When Strega Amelia (a witch with a flair for fancy robes and fancy contraptions) pays a visit to her longtime friend, she is so impressed by the crowds queuing up for cures each morning that she promptly sets up a shop of her own. Proffering sweets, cappuccino and the use of exotic machinery, Amelia lures away all of Strega Nona's customers, even hiring Big Anthony to be her assistant. The newly unemployed Strega Nona blesses the partnership, but readers will begin to discern mischief at work: With Big Anthony around, can disaster be far behind? DePaola once again decants the charm of a sleepy Italian village with his Tuscan-toned watercolors and a sprinkling of Italian words and phrases. A palette of warm pinks and purples lends extra cheeriness to the tale. Strega Nona (a witch with as much sense as sorcery skills) ultimately prevails, humorously underscoring the message that the tried-and-true is often best. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ages 5-7. When Strega Amelia comes to Strega Nona's village and sets up her own rival business in lotions, potions, and matchmaking, she uses free sweets and cappuccino to draw customers away from her old friend. Strega Nona's customers desert her, and soon she can no longer afford to pay her helpers. The hapless Big Anthony goes to work for Strega Amelia, who leaves him in charge one day, with results that Strega Nona fans will find deliciously predictable. De Paola's watercolor illustrations seem bolder, brighter, and more comical than in the original story. While children who know the earlier books will be one step ahead, this engaging picture book will please those new to the series as well. A pleasure to read aloud, this features the broad humor that young children relish. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (July 16, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698114116
• ISBN-13: 978-0698114111
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Europe

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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strega Nona Meets Her Match, October 22, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Strega Nona Meets Her Match (Hardcover)

Tommy DePaola writes an interesting story about Strega Nona and her cousin. Big Anthony always makes mistakes with Strega Amelia. All the people went back to Strega Nona. I liked the illustrations very much. Lissette. R.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cure for Competition!, January 4, 2007

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strega Nona Meets Her Match (Paperstar) (Mass Market Paperback)

Strega Nona always seems to come out on top with a bit of patience and some sly, cunning knowledge, she waits it out without losing her temper or blowing that calm, knowing image...it's priceless in many ways. A lesson from Strega Nona is always welcome, here the lesson we learn is about competition...when Strega Amelia comes to visit and sees how many people come to Strega Nona she's impressed and you can see the gears turning...she thinks she can do better with her modern ways. Strega Amalia immediate beats feet back home and shows up a few days later with three wagon's loaded down with her modern witchy machines and contraptions; as we all remember, Strega Amelia favors the "new" ways and Strega Nona favors the old ways...both valid for the women in question, but are Strega Amelia's ways for this town? Bambalona is outraged by Amelia's modern ways...wooing customers away with sweet treats and cappuccino and even more upset when all Strega Nona's customers turn to Strega Amelia and even Big Anthony signs on as her helper...but Strega Nona knows something Bambalona doesn't and blesses the arrangement. All seems to go well until Amelia has to leave for three days to fetch the rest of her stuff and leaves Big Anthony in charge...Strega Nona would have known better! Read and find out what happens to Strega Amelia and about all the silly and forgetful things Big Anthony does with her equipment! Another 5 star story from Tomie de Paola, Strega Nona Meets Her Match Indeed...it's told in the same simple yet timeless style as his other Straga Nona titles and we simply can't get enough of this trio and their silly adventures that always leave us with a smile and a wise lesson learned!

5.0 out of 5 stars classroom book, January 20, 2012

By 

R. L. Stewart (BOCA RATON, FL, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strega Nona Meets Her Match (Paperstar) (Mass Market Paperback)

The book arrived in a timely manner and in very good condition. We are very happy and would order from this vendor again.