Strega Nona's Magic Lessons

Strega Nona and her assistant Big Anthony return in this cross-dressing adventure from author/illustrator Tomie dePaola. When the grandmotherly witch takes on Bambolona the baker's daughter as a pupil, Big Anthony asks if he too can learn magic. Told that men don't become strega (witches), he disguises himself as a girl, in order to take Strega Nona's magic lessons. Unfortunately, his poor memory, inattention to detail, and tendency to use Strega Nona's magic without her supervision, once again backfire, and he ends up turning his teacher into a toad. Can he ever set things right...?

Published in 1982, Strega Nona's Magic Lessons is the third picture-book featuring these characters, following upon the Caldecott Honor-winning Strega Nona show more and Big Anthony and the Magic Ring (more recently released as Strega Nona's Magic Ring. Although it covers similar territory to those earlier stories, in the sense that Big Anthony once again uses some of Strega Nona's magic illicitly, with poor results, it was still quite entertaining. I did feel rather bad for him, being told that men couldn't become strega, but in the end, his efforts to learn magic were torpedoed by his own laziness and rule-breaking, rather than by his gender. The artwork is every bit as appealing as in previous entries in the series, and accentuates the humor of the story. Recommended to fans of Strega Nona, and to anyone who enjoys magical tales with a sense of humor. show less

In Strega Nona's Magic Lessons we once again join Strega Nona as she teaches Bambalona and a surprising new student Antonia (Big Anthony in disguise) to be Strega too. Bambalona learns well while Antonia struggles and gets it all wrong (humorous and expected, given Big Anthony's past with Strega Nona). When the day comes that Strega Nona gives Bambalona her spell book to study and tells Antonia that she's not ready yet, well, Big Anthony can't accept that and sneaks out in the middle of the night to get the book....and that's when he does it again, he messes with Strega Nona's magic and turns her into a frog. Both he and Bambalona are horrified and worried that they'll never get her back. As usual its love, honesty, integrity and a show more little forgiveness that wins the day. Another fine addition to the Strega Nona series! Readers will love this fun and silly look at what makes the world go `round. I give it five stars, I love the charming and timeless quality of the stories and illustrations (which are simple yet have a strong old world flavor that is ever so appealing). show less

Strega Nona (Witch Grandmother) is helping the residents in her village, this time her pupil is Bambolona the baker's daughter needing magic lessons. Big Anthony wants the magic lessons too, but Nona says that only girls can be Stregas. The next day a tall unknown girl appears asking for magic lessons too. The reader is rewarding in knowing that the big girl is really Big Anthony in disguise and he's up to his old ways - not paying attention or following the rules which get him into trouble again.

So much fun!

Bambolona, the baker's daughter, gets fed up with doing all the work, and goes to Strega Nona for help; Strega Nona invites her to stay and learn magic. Big Anthony, of course, is jealous, and disguises himself as Antonia to try to become a strega. Clever hijinks ensue.

In this fun book, Bambolona, the baker's daughter, seeks help from Strega Nona, the town strega (witch), to learn magic and escape her exhausting work. Strega Nona's helper, Big Anthony, was very nosy. When he overheard Strega Nona and Bambolona's conversation, he rushed to the house asking to learn magic too, but the witch refused him. Big Anthony disguised himself as a woman, Antonia, to try and learn the strega's secrets. Failing every lesson, he snuck into the house one night and read Bambolona's book of spells. The next day, he came and turned Nona into a toad. After he showed remorse and regret, the witch "turned back into a human".

Very cute. Can't go wrong with a book that starts off with a girl who gets tired of being used as a workhorse and runs off to become a witch.

dePaola, T. (1982). Strega nona’s magic lessons. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers.

Bambolona feels overworked at the bakery. When she complains to her father that she cannot bake bread, cookies, cakes, and clean, he tells her to get up even earlier to finish all the tasks. Frustrated, Bambolona decides to see Strega Nona (Grandma Witch). Strega Nona says that she will teach her magic. Big Anthony, however, overhears their conversation, and he too wants to learn magic. Strega Nona refuses to teach him, so Big Anthony disguises himself as Antonia.

DePaola uses theme of magical powers. As in many traditional folktales, magic plays a key role in stories. In this case, it is a naive character, Big Anthony, who uses magic show more unwisely, accidently “turning” Strega Nona into a toad.

Strega Nona’s Magic Lessons is a delightful story with comical illustrations. show less