This is a story about an Italian girl named Nona with a grandmother who teaches her how to be a "Strega." A Strega does magic and gives people advice. The grandmother teaches Nona many valuble things in order to become a Strega and eventually leaves her business in Nona's hands. Nona carries the business on and is loved by everyone in the town. When she gets old, she also hands the business down to someone else.

Strega Nona is born on a stormy night. Her grandmother is also a witch who trains Nona and her griend Amelia. The two go to "witch college," but Nona gets homesick, and goes back to her grandmother. Her grandmother teaches her old-fashioned magic, and that the greatest ingredient to magic is love.

This book is a good example of folktale, because the story had been passed down and retold orally before it was ever recorded on paper. Nona's grandmother has always known exactly what to do at exactly the right time, it was not secret. However, as time passes, she becomes weaker and more fragile. She requests that Nona take over her business of creating magical things for individuals, and she does so enthusiastically. The author engages readers in the development of Nona's character throughout the story, and the reader receives the insight of the story just as if it was being orally shared.

Age Appropriateness: Intermediate

Media: Acrylic ( )

Strega Nona and her best friend, Amelia, decide to become stregas as little girls. They train with Strega Nona’s grandmother and continue on to the university, which Amelia loves, but Nona hates and leaves. Nona feels that she’s not really a strega if she hasn’t studied there, but her grandmother says there are many ways to get an education, and leaves her everything when she retires. ( )