Strega Nona Takes a Vacation [Hardcover]

Tomie dePaola (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

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

It has been a long time since Strega Nona had a vacation. At night she dreams she's at her Grandma Concetta's little house by the seashore. During the day she hears Grandma Concetta's voice saying, "Vieni, Nonalina, come." Soon even Big Anthony notices that Strega Nona is distracted--she gives the Mayor the wrong remedy for his headache! Everybody says, "Strega Nona needs a vacation!" But when she sends bubble bath to Bambolona and candy to Big Anthony, greedy Bambolona takes the candy for herself, leaving Big Anthony--and the town--in a sea of bubbles! Only Big Anthony, famous for his problem with pasta, could have trouble like this with soap! Award-winning artist/author Tomie dePaola brings us a warm and very funny addition to the stories of his most beloved character, Strega Nona.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

After dreaming about her childhood by the seashore with her beloved grandmother, Strega Nona is distracted, wondering what it could mean. But when she starts giving the villagers the wrong remedies for their stomachaches and headaches, she realizes the answer: it's time for a vacation. Placing her helpers, Bambolona and Big Anthony, in charge of the chores and daily remedies, Strega Nona sets off, with just one warning: "Don't touch the pasta pot!" (Everyone remembers when Big Anthony flooded the village with pasta.) All goes smoothly on Strega Nona's long-awaited holiday--until she sends some gifts home to her children. What harm can it do, Bambolona wonders, if she switches Big Anthony's candy for her own bubble bath. The whole village will soon find out!

Award-winning author and illustrator Tomie dePaola brings back his most beloved character in this charming tale of bumbling innocents and happy memories revisited. As in Strega Nona: Her Story, Strega Nona Meets Her Match, and Big Anthony: His Story, this venerable folk healer and her friends, in their idyllic Mediterranean setting, appeal to readers of all ages. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

There's no rest for a talented strega. At least that's what dePaola's (26 Fairmont Avenue) beloved Italian witch, Strega Nona, concludes in her latest romp. Strega Nona has been dreaming of childhood vacations spent at the seashore with her Grandma Concetta, and in her waking hours, she's distracted, wondering what her dream means. After she nearly confuses several remedies, the villagers recognize the problem: "It looks like Strega Nona needs a vacation." Strega Nona gets the message after Grandma Concetta again visits in a dream, and soon she packs her bags and heads for Concetta's old seaside cottage, leaving her assistantsDsweet, bumbling Big Anthony and practical BambolonaDin charge. She enjoys fishing, swimming and watching sunsets, and sends gifts, candy for Big Anthony and bubble bath for Bambolona. But when Bambolona takes charge of the parcel, she takes the candy for herself and hands the bubble bath to Big Anthony. The resultsDtroublesome and very sudsyDare conveyed almost entirely visually, in warm panel art. The breezy text, peppered with Italian words, hums along as dePaola's sunny, airy acrylics demonstrate his fondness for these favorite characters and the old-world setting. Strega Nona, happily, proves as magical as ever. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; First Edition edition (September 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399235620
• ISBN-13: 978-0399235627
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,499,791 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 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Trust Your Instincts!, December 21, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Strega Nona Takes a Vacation (Hardcover)

The main weakness of this book is that it requires a knowledge of the predecessor books in the series to understand the characters and the story context. If you have read the other Strega Nona books by Tomie dePaola, this is a five-star book. If not, this is a three-star book. I have averaged the two scores out to arrive at a four-star rating.

The theme of the book is understanding patterns and connections.

The story begins with Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) having a vivid dream about being a child again and being with her Grandma Concetta at the beach. The next day, Strega Nona is distracted, and everyone notices it. In fact, she almost gives the mayor the wrong medicine for his headache.

She then has another dream in which her Grandma tells her to come to her house at the beach. Then, Strega Nona realizes that this is all a subconscious desire for a vacation . . . something she has not had for a long time.

She rounds up Bambolona, her medicine helper, and Big Anthony, her chore helper. They will take care of everyone while Strega Nona is gone.

Strega Nona has a wonderful time by herself at her Grandma's house. She sends presents to Bambolona and Big Anthony. Bambolona covets the candy sent for Big Anthony, and switches the tags so Big Anthony gets bubble bath instead.

Big Anthony doesn't know what bubble bath is, and pours it all into one bath. Soon the entire village is covered with bubbles. At least it's not pasta, again! There are two things that I like very much about this story. First, it encourages a child to think about her or his intuition as a possible source of insight. As a parent you can then encourage your child to share his or her dreams and day dreams, and talk about what they might mean.

Second, the book contains a number of Italian words. This makes for a pleasant way to show how your child easy it is to learn a few words in another language.

Any parent will also appreciate the suggestion here that the adults need a break sometimes, too.

After you have finished enjoying the story, I suggest that you and your child discuss some of the dreams you have had that turned out to be important signs of what you needed to do. Beyond that, consider what dreams you are ignoring now. What do they mean?

Then, perhaps you could discuss the family's next vacation.

Be sensitive to your instincts!

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, November 13, 2011

By 

Diane (boston, ma) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Strega Nona Takes a Vacation (Hardcover)

my 4 yr old twins love Strega Nona, they each take a book to bed with them!
The pix are beautiful and they read the story back to me with from the pix!

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite in the Strega Nona series, January 7, 2008

By 

Sharon A. Sullivan - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Strega Nona Takes a Vacation (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

My 5 1/2 yr. old daughter was introduced to the "Strega Nona" series in kindergarten this year. This is by far her favorite one! We bought them all for her for x-mas so that mom and dad and grammy and grampy could read them too. Very fun, as with many Tomie Depaola books. These are special for us because we have an italian Nona!!!