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Strega Nona #12
Strega Nona and Her Tomatoes
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!
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!
32 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2017
2 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Tomie dePaola
441 books900 followersTomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children.
He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.
Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.
He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books, including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, and Meet the Barkers.
Tomie dePaola and his work have been recognized with the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 21, 2020
When Strega Nona's tomatoes are ready to pick, the 'grandmother witch' harvests them and begins to count them out, wanting to give some to the sisters at the convent. Called away by Bambalona, when the goat begins to eat the laundry, she isn't there when her bumbling assistant, Big Anthony, undoes all her work...
Introduced in 1975, in the Caldecott Honor-winning Strega Nona , this witchy figure has featured in eleven picture-books, as well as a pop-up book. Strega Nona and Her Tomatoes is the first of two beginning readers devoted to her adventures. It features a rather simplified text and story-line, compared to the full-length picture-books, and a counting element meant to appeal to younger children. Although simple, I found the storyline engaging enough - it's standard Strega Nona fair, with Big Anthony causing chaos - and I appreciated Tomie dePaola's trademark illustrations. It's meant to be a Level One reader, in Simon & Schuster's Ready-To-Read collection, intended to present "easy sight words and words to sound out." Although I thought some of the words were a little complex for this purpose - promised, convent, etc. - on the whole it succeeds. Recommended to Strega Nona fans who are just getting going with their reading.
Introduced in 1975, in the Caldecott Honor-winning Strega Nona , this witchy figure has featured in eleven picture-books, as well as a pop-up book. Strega Nona and Her Tomatoes is the first of two beginning readers devoted to her adventures. It features a rather simplified text and story-line, compared to the full-length picture-books, and a counting element meant to appeal to younger children. Although simple, I found the storyline engaging enough - it's standard Strega Nona fair, with Big Anthony causing chaos - and I appreciated Tomie dePaola's trademark illustrations. It's meant to be a Level One reader, in Simon & Schuster's Ready-To-Read collection, intended to present "easy sight words and words to sound out." Although I thought some of the words were a little complex for this purpose - promised, convent, etc. - on the whole it succeeds. Recommended to Strega Nona fans who are just getting going with their reading.
June 26, 2022
A missed opportunity to incorporate a counting component in an otherwise very sparse Strega Nona tale.
Which is a pity, because Strega Nona and growing tomatoes are two of my favourite things...
Which is a pity, because Strega Nona and growing tomatoes are two of my favourite things...
November 13, 2022
Not much of a story, Strega Nona just counting tomatoes. And its not even a lesson in counting because she skips numbers 🤷♀️
September 6, 2017
Strega Nona picks her ripe tomatoes and then counts them to know how many to give the sisters at the convent. She is interrupted mid-count and Big Anthony tries to help her. Both count the tomatoes, but don't communicate well with humorous results.
Readers should actually learn what a dozen means from this, along with enjoying a humorous story. Nice large font size is good for beginning readers and those with eye challenges. The vocabulary is at times challenging (not sure kids will know what a convent is and it isn't explained...they probably also won't know a dozen is but it is explained a bit).
Readers should actually learn what a dozen means from this, along with enjoying a humorous story. Nice large font size is good for beginning readers and those with eye challenges. The vocabulary is at times challenging (not sure kids will know what a convent is and it isn't explained...they probably also won't know a dozen is but it is explained a bit).
May 22, 2017
Two of dePaola's most memorable characters for me, Stega Nona and Big Anthony now appear in an easy reader format and even here Big Anthony while trying to be helpful manages to make a mistake.
October 4, 2017
The illustrations are charming but I'm not sure that kids would appreciate the story - it's more of a little joke that parents will get.
Ages: 4 -6
Ages: 4 -6
January 26, 2024
It's a counting book. It's a story about grandmother Strega Nona, back in the old country.
How can you tell about the part involving "back in the old country"?
* Partly because Strega Nona promised to give two dozen tomatoes to nuns at her nearby convent. * Partly because the counting of this gift is interrupted by a goat.
Gentle humor and delightful characters add to the special joy that I always feel from a book by Tomie dePaola. Here it's as though the teaching how to count... is incidental to learning what's going to happen in the story --not always the case with educational children's books, early readers included.
How can you tell about the part involving "back in the old country"?
* Partly because Strega Nona promised to give two dozen tomatoes to nuns at her nearby convent. * Partly because the counting of this gift is interrupted by a goat.
Gentle humor and delightful characters add to the special joy that I always feel from a book by Tomie dePaola. Here it's as though the teaching how to count... is incidental to learning what's going to happen in the story --not always the case with educational children's books, early readers included.
November 15, 2024
Wow! Usually Tomie DePaola is wordy, not here. I was very surprised at the simplicity of this book. Nona goes to her garden, sees her tomatoes are ripe and picks them. She brings them inside and counts them, interrupted, she leaves half way. Big Anthony comes in and undoes her work. End.
It's a basic Strega Nona story. It's not really much of a story at all. I suppose it's a book about tomatoes.
The artwork is pure Tomie dePaola. Nothing new there. Strange little tale.
It's a basic Strega Nona story. It's not really much of a story at all. I suppose it's a book about tomatoes.
The artwork is pure Tomie dePaola. Nothing new there. Strange little tale.
May 9, 2017
Little bunny butt on the last page <3
July 28, 2017
I love Strega Nona.
September 7, 2017
Not sure I really get it. I guess it's a counting book? Or maybe the 4 year-olds will laugh at it...
September 11, 2017
Kids likes this one too!
September 16, 2017
I love Tomie DePaola and Strega Nona. This is a great fun book for early readers.
October 26, 2017
10/26/2017 Read with Julia.
January 22, 2018
Cute story a little disjointed with the counting about growing tomatoes and her friends trying to help her count them!
January 22, 2018
She counts out her tomatoes, but gets called away. Someone helps to count, but she has to start over when she gets back.
May 20, 2018
Read with my siblings.
March 28, 2019
Pleasant illustrations, as expected, but the story didn't make a lot of sense. I mean, I know what happened, but there doesn't seem to be much of a purpose here. I was puzzled.
February 22, 2021
Cute beginning reader about Strega Nona growing and wanting to share her tomatoes after she counts them.
September 8, 2023
Strega Nona has an amazing attitude. At least two "bad" things happen to her, and she deals with them both with love and understand and positivity.
October 11, 2023
Any story where a goat is eating something it shouldn't is top notch in my book. This totally captures the character of Big Anthony. Also I love the fresh produce.
December 18, 2023
This one has the old world charm of the Strega Nona books but no magic. Strega Nona gather tomatoes and then enjoys counting them.
February 23, 2024
Cute book with Strega Nona and Big Anthony. Read it quickly.
September 18, 2024
The kids in reading class LOVE this one and want to read it again and again
November 8, 2024
An easy reader Strega Nona story. In this one, she counts her tomatoes but is interrupted and Big Anthony unintentionally undoes her work. Cute overall.
May 29, 2025
Review from a toddler: “I love it”
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews