DePaola, T. (1975). Strega Nona. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Brief Annotation: This story is about an wise old woman, Strega Nona, whose magical powers cure people throughout her town. Having reached a certain age this old medicine woman decides she can no longer handle the upkeep of her home and garden alone, so she hires a local boy, Big Anthony to help. Strega Nona has a magic pasta pot that she instructs Big Anthony never to touch, but one day when she heads across the mountain, Big Anthony gets into a lot of trouble with the pot. The magic begins to make pasta, but Big Anthony cannot stop it and soon pasta floods the town. Returning just in time strega Nona stops the pot and doles out the perfect punishment for Anthony’s crime.

Genre: Folktale

Grade Level: Pre-K - 2
Readers who will like this: Children who enjoy DePaola’s characteristic artwork and style. Kids who like books with a lesson and a little humor.
Response/Rating (1-4): **** I’ve read many of the Strega Nona books before, but never this original. It was fun to read and I love the drawings.

One question you would ask before a read aloud:
What does your mom or dad do when you disobey them and get into trouble?