Tomie dePaola

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

Collects four folktales about flowers and Christmas traditions from Texas, Mexico, and Italy.

Big Anthony gets what he thinks he wants—but like usual, it causes him more trouble than he can handle in this beloved sequel to Tomie dePaola’s Caldecott Honor–winning Strega Nona . Big Anthony has a case of spring fever and he needs a little Night Life to cheer him up! But Big Anthony is afraid that if he goes to the village dance, no one will dance with him. So when Strega Nona goes away on a visit, Big Anthony borrows her magic ring, which turns him into a handsome stranger…

Tomie dePaola serves as "biographer" to his delightful Italian sorceress, Strega Nona, in this beautifully drawn prequel. The tale begins with little Nona's birth on a dark and stormy night, and ends where the original Strega Nona picks up-with Strega Nona taking on the bumbling, knock-kneed Big Anthony as an apprentice. This winsome story is illustrated throughout with Tomie dePaola's warm and sunny watercolors! "dePaola does a splendid job of working this sparkling tale into the Strega Nona canon." - Publishers Weekly

Big Anthony disguises himself as a girl in order to take magic lessons from Strega Nona.

Discover brand-new stories about Strega Nona, by acclaimed author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read series that’s perfect for beginning readers! Strega Nona is excited! The tomatoes in her garden are ripe, and she picks enough to fill a basket. She wants to give twenty-four tomatoes to the convent, and counts them out on the kitchen table. She is in the middle of counting when Signora Goat starts to eat the laundry. While Strega Nona is outside, Big Anthony sees the tomatoes and wants to help. Poor Big Anthony. He puts the tomatoes back in the basket!

Lately Strega Nona has been distracted-she even gave Signore Mayor the wrong remedy for his headache. One night Nona has a dream about her Grandma Concetta, who has been in heaven for many years, and her little house at the seashore. Nona decides that she will take a vacation there. While Strega Nona is away, Bambolona will do the daily remedies and Big Anthony will do the chores. With these two left in charge, what could possibly go wrong?

In this brand-new story from acclaimed author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, Strega Nona babysits twins in a Level 1 Ready-to-Read book that’s perfect for beginning readers! Strega Nona is babysitting twins for the day. Bambolona and Big Anthony help too. The twins, on the other hand, do not help with anything! They get into trouble everywhere they go! Luckily, Strega Nona knows what to do.

Tomie dePaola’s beloved and bestselling Strega Nona gets in some friendly competition in this beloved addition to the series! Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) 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's got her own cure. For Strega Amelia! "A pleasure to read aloud, this features the broad humor that young children relish."— Booklist  

Following the New York Times bestsellers Strega Nona's Gift , Strega Nona's Harvest and Brava, Strega Nona, Tomie dePaola’s beloved Strega Nona is back, with the perfect remedy for a houseguest who overstays her welcome.   Angelina is so beautiful that all the young men in the village are chasing her, but the one she has eyes for doesn’t know she exists. At his wits’ end, her father sends her to his dear cousin—Strega Nona. Strega Nona, Big Anthony and Bambolona are excited to have a houseguest, but they’re in for a surprise. Angelina is a spoiled young lady used to being boss, and before they know it, Big Anthony is her new footman and Bambolona is her maid. Her nonstop demands have the whole household in a tizzy! It’s up to Strega Nona to devise a plan that will make everyone happy—including two comically vain young lovers. Once again the amazing Tomie dePaola brings Strega Nona and her energetic household to fabulous life. With hilarious illustrations packed with details of Angelina’s over-the-top antics, Strega Nona’s latest outing begs to be read over and over again.

In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend.Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in which it was revealed that one day he would create a painting that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky at sunset. The boy grew up to become the painter of the tribe, but although he found a pure white buckskin for a canvas and made paints from the brightest flowers and the reddest berries, he could not capture the sunset. How the young Indian artist finally fulfills his Dream-Vision is lovingly told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, in words and pictures that capture the spirit and beauty of this dramatic legend.

This wordless picture book follows the trials of a little old lady who attempts to make pancakes for her breakfast. “The optimistic determination of the woman and the gentle humor of the illustrations make this an appealing book for the very young.”-- School Library Journal This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades K-1, Stories).