Strega Nona's Harvest

by Tomie dePaola, Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

Overview

A charming celebration of autumn's bounty by perennial favorite Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola's beloved Strega Nona is back in a colorful picture book, perfect for fall and the changing seasons. With beautiful illustrations reminiscent of the artwork that won Tomie dePaola the Caldecott Honor for the original Strega Nona, this celebration of harvest and gardening will make the perfect addition to any Strega Nona collection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142423387
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/16/2012
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.56(w) x 10.88(h) x 0.19(d)
Lexile:	AD690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tomie dePaola lives in New London, New Hampshire. He has been awarded the Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian, the Regina Medal (a Catholic recognition), and was designated a "living treasure" by the state of New Hampshire.

Hometown:

Connecticut and New Hampshire

Date of Birth:

September 15, 1935

Place of Birth:

Meriden, CT

Website:

http://www.tomie.com/main.html

Editorial Reviews

DePaola's bighearted witch returns in a winning tale about generosity and cooperation. When the full moon shines at the end of May, Strega Nona enlists Big Anthony and Bambolona to help plant her annual vegetable garden. After singing to the moon, bidding it to “let the moonbeams shine from thee,/ To make my garden grow,” she adds her familiar “ingrediente segreto—secret ingredient”: three kisses she blows to the moon. In a diverting subplot, Big Anthony, who wants to impress bossy Bambolona with his green thumb, grows his own (considerably more slapdash) garden next door (he blows six kisses to the moon “just to be sure”). In the fall, both gardens flourish, and Big Anthony anonymously leaves huge piles of veggies outside Strega Nona's door. She, too, decides to share her bountiful harvest, hosting a feast for the grateful villagers. Readers get an introduction to some basic Italian words throughout, defined within the text or, in the case of the vegetables, in dePaola's signature, cheerful acrylic illustrations. Without an ounce of moralizing, dePaola demonstrates the benefits of sharing (not to mention eating locally). Ages 3–5. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

[A]ll the warmth and gentle humor that have made the long-running Strega Nona series a favorite.

Booklist

Who can resist another Strega Nona story? It is spring and the snow is melting. Strega Nona pulls out a wooden box and discovers the small packets of seeds that she saved from last year's garden. She will plant these seeds when the moon inspires her. Meanwhile Big Anthony spreads the compost and manure in the soil where the vegetables will grow; later he creates straight rows with a hoe. Bambalona chastises Big Anthony for not making the rows straight enough. That night Strega Nona sings to the moon—and blows her secret ingredient—three kisses—to the stars. Big Anthony decides to plant his own garden behind the goat shed. He will show Bambalona that he can create a good garden after all. While Strega Nona's garden grows beautifully, Big Anthony's is chaotic and disorderly. Why does his garden look like a jungle? When it comes time to harvest the vegetables, Big Anthony is not sure what to do with his bounty. So he leaves a large pile of vegetables at Strega Nona's door, and every morning she awakes to another tall pile. Fortunately, Strega Nona decides to share the vegetables with the villagers whose harvest was less successful. For over thirty years, young readers have loved reading about Big Anthony and Strega Nona; this book is another rich harvest for readers. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D.

Children's Literature - Suzanna E. Henshon

Gr 2–4—While its characters are familiar and their actions predictable, this tale adds a second dimension, instructing young readers on how to grow vegetables. Strega Nona saves her seeds from last year's garden, rotates her crops to keep the soil "happy and strong," and, much to Big Anthony's chagrin, explains the importance of compost and manure in the planting process. But most importantly, she stresses the need to sow seeds in orderly rows, a step Big Anthony chooses to ignore. The results are two very different gardens, as depicted by dePaola's familiar transparent acrylic illustrations, with bumbling Big Anthony having much more produce than he can handle. Sure to reap lots of fans.—C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

School Library Journal