Strega Nona Meets Her Match

by Tomie dePaola

Overview

Tomie dePaola’s beloved and bestselling "grandmother witch" gets some friendly competition in this beloved addition to the series!

Strega Nona has cures for warts and headaches, even lovesickness. She uses old-fashioned potions and magic and the villagers in Calabria flock to her door.

But when her friend Strega Amelia comes over the mountain for a visit, she brings more than just gossip. Soon she's set up her own shop, using the latest modern gadgets, offering sweets and cappuccino—to all of Strega Nona's regulars! Looks like Strega Nona's met her match, unless she can come up with a cure for Strega Amelia!


"A pleasure to read aloud, this features the broad humor that young children relish."—Booklist

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780698114111
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	07/16/1996
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tomie dePaola (www.tomie.com) is the acclaimed author and/or illustrator of more than 250 books for children. His books range from autobiographical stories to retellings of folktales and legends to original tales, such as the Strega Nona books.  Tomie has received the Children's Literature Legacy Award, a Caldecott Honor for Strega Nona, and a Newbery Honor for his autobiographical chapter book, 26 Fairmount Avenue. The American Library Association said: “His works reflect an innate understanding of childhood, a distinctive visual style, and a remarkable ability to adapt his voice to perfectly suit the story.” He was awarded the Smithson Medal, the Regina Medal, was designated a “living treasure” by the state of New Hampshire, and received the 2012 Original Art Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Society of Illustrators. He lives in New London, New Hampshire.

Hometown:

Connecticut and New Hampshire

Date of Birth:

September 15, 1935

Place of Birth:

Meriden, CT

Website:

http://www.tomie.com/main.html

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Strega Nona Meets Her Match

"A pleasure to read aloud, this features the broad humor that young children relish."—Booklist

''Everyone's favorife Calabrian witch is back." —The New York Times Book Review

"As always, young readers will enjoy the humorous drawings, quaint costumes, and bumbling mistakes of Big Anthony as well as the ever-calm and wise Strega Nona." —Horn Book

From the Publisher

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. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly