Customer Reviews

Strega Nona

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" but without that annoying mouse. For many youngsters like myself, "Strega Nona", marks my earliest introduction to the delightful Tomie de Paola. To me, this story is pitch perfect. It has everything a classic folktale should have and it tells its story with a coy courteous eloquence. Few picture books are half as classy as "Strega Nona". It is perhaps the world's best.

Strega Nona lives by her lonesome in a small cottage in Calabria, Italy. A witch by trade, she cures the townspeople of their ailments, warts, and headaches. When Big Anthony is hired on as Strega Nona's servant she gives him very strict instructions on what he is required to do, and what he is forbidden to do. Quoth Strega Nona, "The one thing you must never do is touch the pasta pot". You can probably guess where this is headed. After seeing the witch conjur delicious cooked pasta fully formed from the pot, Anthony is eager to prove this miracle to the people of the town. When Strega Nona leaves on a trip, Anthony speaks her spell and feeds everyone in the vicinity delicious piping hot pasta. Unfortunately, Anthony didn't quite catch the way to make the pasta stop flowing. As the villagers attempt to prevent the growing pasta from destroying their town, Strega Nona arrives just in time to put everything right again. Anthony receives a just comeuppance and all is well in the world.

I can't pinpoint what exactly it is about this book that touches me so deeply. Maybe it's the imagery in the illustrations. Strega Nona has a prominent recognizable nose and a babuska's kerchief about her head. She is constantly surrounded by large rabbits and peacocks, setting the tone of the life she leads. Tomie de Paola's illustrations always contain an element of spirituality in them, and in this case it comes in the form of the priest and nuns living in the town. I also am greatly attached to the book's choice of words. There's not a syllable out of place in this tale. Not a wasted consonant or a superfluous adjective. It is a perfectly told tale with illustrations that verge on the sublime. All in all, a great book for kids and adults alike.

There's some good descriptions of the story so I won't go into it; however no one so far touches on what the age appropriate level is. It says 4-8, however, when I bought this book, I my kids were just 5 & 2-1/2 yrs old. We are avid(sp?) bedtime book readers, so I am not sure if it is unusual that my younger one listened to the long story as well as my older one. I just happened upon this book at a school book sale & was very happy I'd found it. I think it's a great gift book because it's different -- the town is covered in spaghetti & that's a bit funny -- there's the lesson in it--- and the kids get to imagin how bad of a stomach ache Big Anthony must have had after eating all the spaghetti. I am going to guess that this isn't in everyone's bookshelf, but it should be, so purchase away!

Strega Nona (aka Grandmother Witch in Italian) is a true children's classic! A tale about an elderly witch who has a pot that can make pasta on its own! But things go wrong when Strega Nona's helper, Big Anthony, tried to make the villagers pasta to prove that the pot is indeed magic. A cute story that even the smallest of children can enjoy. Even the illustrations are great. Five stars!

I enjoyed reading this book of fantasy to my children. The illustrations in this story are brilliant. The plot, although predictable and simple, was very amusing. It gave me the chance to re-iterate the importance of listening and following directions carefully for our own wellbeing as well as for the wellbeing of others. The character of Big Anthony is very endearing. He really wanted to do good things for the people. Sometimes in life, we find that many of our mistakes are paved with good intentions.
In researching the author I found that Tomie dePaola, whose given name is Thomas Anthony de Paola, was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1934 of an Irish and Italian background. From an early age his he loved to create picture books. His mother, a book lover, read to him and his brother and encouraged their love of books.
This is a great bed time reader. It is not to long and leaves lasting impressions.

Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) is about the beloved character with the same name. She lives in a small town in Italy, where she cures sickness and warts. When she hires Big Anthony to help her, trouble starts. When Anthony sees her through the window making pasta by chanting a few words, he tries while she is on a trip to see a friend. Kids will enjoy the humorous ending and classic illustrations. (...)

This book was about a witch named Strega Nona who needed help to do work around the house, so a boy named Big Anthony came to help her. But he learend how to work Strega Nona's pot and made spaghetti for the whole town. When he told the pot to stop it just made more. Strega Nona blew three kisses the pot stopped, and big Anthony had to eat all the spaghetti. The funny pictures were colorful and made me feel happy.This strange tale teaches a lesson for all ages.

Altough I did not realize at purchase time this was a board book, my daughter did not care for that. We enjoy the story and the condition was as advertised

This book brings smiles as it is reminds me of the days when children's books were simple and guided the imagination through unique illustrations and a flowing (no pun intended) story-line. I read this book repeatedly when I was really young that when I recently tried searching for it I kept looking for a title with Spaghetti in it. Now, I am thrilled to have found it and hope to read it to me kids someday. TIP: If you want a book that really brings out a young child's imagination (for the book has no words, the story is in pictures) try picking up De Paolo's Pancakes for Breakfast too. I am happy to say I recently purchased my copy.

STREGA NONA
RETOLD BY TOMIE DE PAOLA
Reviewed by ETHAN

The book Strega Nona is a funny, nice, and is a story with a moral. When I was little, I loved it for its humorous plot and it's well drawn pictures. In fact, a lot of parents love it for there children.

Strega Nona takes place in a small village. In the village lives Strega Nona a nice old healer. She has a magic pasta pot. But, when Big Anthony comes along looking for a job, bites off more than he can chew.

The author TOMIE DE PAOLO has retold this children's story or book into a story for everyone no matter what the age. TOMIE has also given it pictures even though they do not give descriptions. They still are good understandable pictures.

Even though the book has a fantastic plot, pictures, and characters it has some faults. First, it did not captivate me and it did not give a good description of characters.
I would like to add something although it has its faults it is a wonderful book and it got the Caldecott Honor book Award.

This book is great for teachers because it has a moral and it is a perfect book for kids because they can understand it. Parents, I would say that this is the book to give to your children! That's why Strega Nona is perfect.

This book is perfect! I gave it as a baby shower gift and it had a generous amount of room inside the front cover where I could write an inscription to the baby. I'm sure he'll love the book!