Traditional Literature Book Review
Strega Nona: A Old Tale Retold
By: Tomie de Paola
BIBLIOGRAPHY
De Paola, Tomie. 1975. STREGA NONA : A Old Tale Retold. By Tomie de Paola. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 0671666061
PLOT SUMMARY
Strega Nona lived in the Italian town of Calabria. She was known to the villagers for her cures and some whispered of her magic. Villagers would say that "She made special potions for girls who wanted husbands." As she grew old, she hired an assistant by the name of Big Anthony to help with chores in exchange for a place to sleep, some coins and food. One evening while Big Anthony was milking the goat he overheard Strega Nona singing. "Bubble , bubble, pasta pot." With amazement he watched as Strega Nona continued her special song that made her magic pot boil with plentiful pasta. Unfortunately he missed the final part of the spell, the three kisses. The next day, before Strega Nona ventured away she reminded him not to touch her pot, "And remember don't touch the pasta pot"
As he waved good bye, Big Anthony seized his opportunity to try out the spell with the magic pot. To his amazement, the pot produced pasta for him. He ran to the village to share of his good news and told the town to "Get forks and plates and platters and bowls". Big Anthony was viewed as a hero, but not for long. As he was busy taking in the many compliments the magic pasta pot kept making pasta. The pasta was pouring from over the bowl, out of Strega Nona's house on to the town's streets. He tried to make the magic pasta pot stop by yelling "Stop" and repeating the magic spell. All the while- still unaware of the three magic kisses. Big Anthony was the cause of not a problem, but a great, big problem. Villagers shouted for Big Anthony to "Do Something!"
It wasn't until Strega Nona made her way down from the hills that she could see in a instant what the problem was..she blew her magical three kisses and the pasta stopped. The village people cried "Oh , grazie- thank you, thank you, Strega Nona!" The villagers then turned on Big Anthony "String him up" , but the grandma witch saved Big Anthony. Strega Nona had the perfect punishment that would fit the crime .....to eat all the pasta.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Tomie de Paola searched his Italian heritage to bring a refashioned folktale to life. As he struggled to think about folktales he doodled his first picture of Strega Nona, although he did not know what her story would be. Time passed and he fondly remembered his favorite folk tale as a child “The Poridge Pot” and thinking of his doodled Strega Nona-this is where the marriage occurred for a refashioned folktale. Strega Nona took life complete with a Grandma Witch (meaning of Strega Nona) , a greedy helper (Big Anthony) and some catchy repetitive phrases like "Bubble , Bubble pasta pot, Boil me some pasta , nice and hot," all children will be chanting their own magic spells complete with the Italian charm of three big kisses. His simple tale is captured through the gentle water color illustrations of the Italian town of Calabria. The Caledott winning illustrator de Paola moves the story along with windowing his pictures through out the book. Tommie de Paola’s side profiles of the town’s people and animals , along with simple facial changes represent a soft, caring way of storytelling throughout his book.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Caldecott Honor- 1976
Starred Review Publisher’s Weekly- DePaola executes a clever concept with his trademark charm and humor.
CONNECTIONS
Tomie de Paola has been writing and illustrating books for over 40 years. He would be a great author/illustrator to do an author study on. He has a wonderful video of him titled :”Tomie Live in Concert” where he talks about his childhood, shares his passion drawing and reads aloud books”
His author website is : http://www.tomie.com/main.html
Other Books:
de Paola, Tomie. The Clown of God: an old story. ISBN 9780152191757
de Paola, Tomie. The :Legend of Old Befana: an Italian Christmas Story. ISBN 9780152438166
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