Strega Nona: An Old Tale

Front Cover
Prentice-Hall, 1975 - Juvenile Fiction - 32 pages
Stega Nona is a good and kindhearted "grandmother witch" who provides cures and magical potions for all the people in her small Italian village of Calabria. As she grows older, Strega Nona decides that she needs a helper, and so she hires Big Anthony, a sweet, but rather dim, young man. At first, Big Anthony is a wonderful helper, but when he spies on Strega Nona, when she is using her magical pasta pot, which instantly cooks up tasty pasta for the good witch's dinner, he decides that he, too, should be able to perform such magic. Although Strega Nona warns him to never touch her pasta pot, Big Anthony is unable to resist, and as soon as he can, he tries to prove to the doubtful villagers that he, too, has magical powers. However, Big Anthony doesn't know the true secret of Strega Nona's pot, and although he is able to get it to cook up the pasta, he is unable to get it to stop. Has Big Anthony cooked his goose, or will Strega Nona sweep in to save the day?

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

About the author (1975)

Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut on September 15, 1934. He received a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute in 1956, a M.F.A. from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1969, and a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College in 1970. He has written and/or illustrated more than 270 books including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, Meet the Barkers, Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs, and Oliver Button Is a Sissy. He has received numerous awards for his work including the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure. His murals and paintings can be seen in many churches and monasteries throughout New England. He has designed greeting cards, magazine and record album covers, and theater sets. His work is shown in galleries and museums. Tomie dePaola died on March 30, 2020 because of complications he had from surgery after a fall.

Bibliographic information