Thomas Anthony de Paola was born in Meriden, Connecticut. He became interested in art at an early age. After graduating from high school, he attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. In 1956, he graduated with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He taught art at Newton College of the Sacred Heart from 1962 to 1966, then moved to California where he taught at San Francisco College for Women from 1967 to 1970. His first illustrated book, Sound, was published in 1965. In 1969, he rece...
Strega Nona
Strega Nona
Synopsis
Meet Strega Nona, a kind grandmotherly witch who uses her magic to help everyone in her Italian town. When she hires Big Anthony, he quickly learns about her magical pasta pot. But Big Anthony doesn't pay close enough attention to all of Strega Nona's rules, leading to a hilarious and messy situation for the whole town. Will he ever be able to stop the endless pasta?
Vibe
Genres
Characters
Strega NonaProtagonist
Big AnthonyAntagonist
The TownspeopleSupporting
Subjects
Places
Edition
No cover available
Strega NonaPaperback, Oct
40 pages
Little SimonISBN: 97814424335575 editions available
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Frequently asked questions
Is Strega Nona part of a series?
Strega Nona is the first book in a series of stories about the character, followed by titles like "Strega Nona's Magic Lessons" and "Strega Nona Meets Her Match." Each book generally features a new adventure or challenge for Strega Nona and Big Anthony.
What inspired the story of Strega Nona?
Tomie dePaola drew inspiration from Italian folklore and traditional commedia dell'arte characters for Strega Nona. The story itself is a retelling of an old European folktale, often known as "The Magic Porridge Pot" or "Sweet Porridge."
Did Strega Nona win any awards?
Strega Nona was recognized as a Caldecott Honor Book, an award given to distinguished American picture books for children. This honor highlights its exceptional illustrations and contribution to children's literature.