Author: Tomie de Paola
Title: Strega Nona
Illustrator: Tomie de Paola
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year: 1975
Genre: Multicultural
Format: Hardcover
Reading Level: Assisted elementary
Interest level: Elementary
Topics: Magic, Italy, pasta, eating
Summary: Townsfolk say that Strega Nona has a magic touch. She is looking for someone to help her around her house because she is getting old so she put a sign up in the town square. Big Anthony signs up for the job and gets put right to work after being told to "never touch the pasta pot." Strega Nona goes away one day and Big Anthony decides to use Strega Nona's spell to make pasta but he forgot the last part of the spell that makes it stop cooking. Before long, the town is being taken over by pasta! Strega Nona comes back just in time and stops the pot from cooking by blowing 3 kisses. In the end, Strega Nona makes Big Anthony eat all of the pasta he made that day.
Extension Activity: Print of pictures of pots and have the kids come up with their own spell and thing their pot makes. Have a discussion about culture. Since this book is about Italy and talks about how much Italians eat, have the class talk about what their families do that are part of their culture.
Title: Strega Nona
Illustrator: Tomie de Paola
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Year: 1975
Genre: Multicultural
Format: Hardcover
Reading Level: Assisted elementary
Interest level: Elementary
Topics: Magic, Italy, pasta, eating
Summary: Townsfolk say that Strega Nona has a magic touch. She is looking for someone to help her around her house because she is getting old so she put a sign up in the town square. Big Anthony signs up for the job and gets put right to work after being told to "never touch the pasta pot." Strega Nona goes away one day and Big Anthony decides to use Strega Nona's spell to make pasta but he forgot the last part of the spell that makes it stop cooking. Before long, the town is being taken over by pasta! Strega Nona comes back just in time and stops the pot from cooking by blowing 3 kisses. In the end, Strega Nona makes Big Anthony eat all of the pasta he made that day.
Extension Activity: Print of pictures of pots and have the kids come up with their own spell and thing their pot makes. Have a discussion about culture. Since this book is about Italy and talks about how much Italians eat, have the class talk about what their families do that are part of their culture.
