Strega Nona (A Strega Nona Book)

I read this book to my children and bought it so they can read it to theirs. Wonderful pictures and wonderful story.Strega Nona has a magic pot that makes pasta. It starts with the magic words only she knows and it stops making pasta when she says the ending magic words. Unfortunately, Big Anthony overheard the start words, but not the end magic words and like the BLOB a never ending pot of pasta engulfs the town. Strega Nona returns and deals with Big Anthony and teaches him a lesson he will never forget.My granddaughter loves this book too. And I love reading it to her.

This was our first Strega Nona book and it began our family's great joy in all of Mr. dePaola's wonderful tales. The simple illustrations are very endearing and the story is always memorable. I much value that Mr. dePaola weaves Catholicism into the fabric of his tales. May God bless him with many more good works.J.M.J.

I read this so many years ago and couldn’t remember why I hadn’t purchased this for my children, as we have hundreds of wonderful books. This book gets such rave reviews and I just don’t know why. It ends so oddly and abruptly. I bought this because of Read Aloud Revival and this isn’t the first of her recommendations that has been horrible. I think the author is lovely, but I’m not a fan of the book. I read it to my kids and they were also so very confused at how it ended.

My 2nd grader enjoys re-reading this book. It is full of pictures and simple dialogue. He even wrote an “award” for the book in one of their writing assignments. This is also a good book for adults, to see human nature in action (doubting people who nevertheless goes to Strega Nona for healing, did not question Anthony as long as they got free food and quick to judge others). Definitely a keeper!

My kids loved this book; we read it, together, hundreds of times. Over the decades, I have "gifted" this title to many other young kids who also love it and keep it in "constant rotation." Some years ago, Mr. DePaola visited my local bookstore, and on that occasion I bought two new copies of Strega Nona, which I asked Mr. DePaola to "personalize" for my kids (now in their 40's). They were subsequently THRILLED with these gifts! That's how much this book meant - and still means - to my own children.A dependable, wonderful gift for ANY children with vivid imaginations!

This is a fun story about a witch who's apprentice tries to use her magic pasta pot and shenanigans ensue. I remembered the book from my childhood, but remembering that I had read it and remembering the story are very different. The illustrations and story are great; reminds me of the sorcerer's apprentice.

I read this book as a child and loved it. So when I saw it on the shelf at B&N I was thrilled - wasn't so thrilled with the B&N price though. Then I found it on Amazon the price was killer so I picked it up.This story is an excellent example of the cost of "not listening" to important instruction. The boy instructed not to touch the witch's magic cooking pot, does so anyways and is dismayed when mounds and mounds of spaghetti fill the town. When Strega Nona returns and stops the spaghetti, she charges the boy with cleaning up his mess by eat all the spaghetti. It teaches, in a fun way, about unintended consequences to our actions.

We need more primary books like this one to stimulate reading with young boys and girls. It is an old folk tale with magic and terrific illustrations. The main character Strega Nonna is a beloved old witch who is loved by the community and very generous to everyone. She even helps Big Anthony with his humorous stupidity. This is a delightful book that children from K-3 will enjoy sharing on many occasions. Speaking as a school librarian I would not miss having this book in my library of folk literature for children.

I can’t believe I came across this book, my Nonna (Nan) used to read this to me as a child and I loved it, but has since disappeared and I thought I’d never see it again, so was very happy when I was able to buy it. The condition is brand new and it is just how I remembered.

One of my relatives remembered this book from her childhood and wanted it for her new baby. She could not find it in hardback at the time, and I found it here. She said it brought a tear to her eyes and she loves it.

The Italian version of The Magic Porridge Pot and indeed of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. Young man overcome by temptation lives to regret his waywardness!But this is a wonderful version, mostly done in pastel shades and brown, set in a solemnly arcaded southern Italian town. The ills are statuesque but full of energy, with tremendous scenes of Big Anthony the miscreant being carried thru the streets on an ocean of spaghetti. Big Anthony is a hulking dunce, thinking there truly is such a thing as a free lunch. Strega Nona is a litle bit creepy but basically benign, and her witchery need cause no young child a moment's anxiety.A funny and sympathetic tale of human weakness.

Lovely story. The children love it. It is funny and it helps children to understand that sometimes there are very good reasons not to play with grown ups things :) and maybe they should ask beforehand.

I remember this little book being read to me nearly 25 years ago when I was at primary school in South Africa, I always remembered the name and found it on amazon and bought it for my three year old daughter. She LOVES it too! Its a great little book for that age group if reading a story before bedtime, not too long and not too short either. She sings the magic words over and over again. Highly recommend it for your children..............any age