Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic tale of magic pasta pot has mischief, kindness.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
STREGA NONA, the "Grandma Witch" of a small Italian village, creates all kinds of potions and cures to help her neighbors. One day, while Big Anthony is looking after her house and garden, he sees Strega Nona use a magic pot to make her dinner, and it magically makes pasta. When he's left alone, he uses her special phrase to start making pasta for the entire village, but things go hilariously wrong without Strega Nona's secret.
Is It Any Good?
The heart and humor of this classic story shine through the simple illustrations and uncomplicated plot. Strega Nona was a Caldecott Honor Book after its release in 1975, and other than a reference to "special potions for the girls who wanted husbands," it stands the test of time. There's a lot of text for emerging readers to tackle, which makes it great for adults to read aloud and for more advanced readers to practice their fluency with a familiar story. There are fun touches, like Big Anthony using the Italian "grazie" and "si" ("thank you" and "yes") when he speaks to Strega Nona, and the idea that fairness is important when someone makes a mistake is a lesson for all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Strega Nona reacts to Big Anthony's mistake. How do you think you would react if someone did what you told them not to do? How would you like to be treated if you were the one who made the mistake?
Why do you think the villagers got so upset? What would you do if you were Big Anthony?
What other books have you read that have magic in them?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Folklore
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 3, 1979
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Caldecott Medal and Honors
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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