Strega Nona

With simple, colorful illustrations and a humorous plot featuring Grandmother Witch’s magical pasta pot that requires more than the right words to control it, this book delights me still.

The story seems to be about learning to listen properly. It’s also about eavesdropping, bragging, and above all, the consequences of failing to follow directions. But its charm to me is its sympathy for naughty Big Anthony, who is, after all, just like everyone’s inner child.

This book is a classic. Strega Nona—"Grandma Witch"— leaves town for a few days leaving a curious Big Anthony alone to watch over her house and her magical pasta pot. Big Anthony decides to try one of Strega Nona’s spells to make pasta, but it has a disastrous outcome because he didn’t listen to instructions. Anthony learns the importance of listening carefully and following directions- a lesson that children of all ages could certainly relate to!

This classic story is one of my all time favorite picture books since I was a child. Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) was my first introduction to the concept of a “Kitchen Witch” and I have loved the combination of magic and cooking ever since. To top it off, Tomie DePaola’s art is so darn comforting. Another book worth owning to read again and again.