About the Author

Tomie dePaola (1934–2020) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of more than 270 books for young readers, including the children’s classic Strega Nona. He was the recipient of the Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, and the 2011 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for “significant and lasting contribution to children’s literature.” A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and spent much of his life in New London, New Hampshire. Visit his work online at Tomie.com.

Reviews

The New York Times Book Review "De Paola's illustrations aptly capture the whimsy of this ancient tale... simple line drawings clearly reveal the agony and ecstasy of pasta power, the muted colors create just the right ambiance for a Medieval village."

PreS-Gr 3-Gr 3Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona (S&S, 1975) is as much fun in Spanish as it is in English. This is the tale of a charming Italian village where a friendly witch, Strega Nona, lives. She helps the villagers solve their problems with simple magic. When Strega Nona goes out of town one day her helper, Big Anthony, borrows one of her tricks to start her magic pasta pot going. He becomes a hero in the village until everyone realizes that he does not know how to make the magic stop. Soon the town is overrun with pasta, and only Strega Nona can save the day. This gentle story will bring a chorus of giggles from any audience. Tomi dePaola's classic illustrations have been animated for this production, and the male narrator creates different voices for each character. Operatic background music adds the final touch. This beautifully produced video will delight Spanish-speaking audiences.-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.