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Strega Nona Takes a Vacation by [Tomie dePaola]

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Tomie dePaola

Strega Nona Takes a Vacation Kindle Edition

by Tomie dePaola (Author, Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

182 ratings

Part of: Strega Nona (9 books)

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It has been a long time since Strega Nona had a vacation. At night she dreams she's at her Grandma Concetta's little house by the seashore. During the day she hears Grandma Concetta's voice saying, "Vieni, Nonalina, come." Soon even Big Anthony notices that Strega Nona is distracted--she gives the Mayor the wrong remedy for his headache! Everybody says, "Strega Nona needs a vacation!" But when she sends bubble bath to Bambolona and candy to Big Anthony, greedy Bambolona takes the candy for herself, leaving Big Anthony--and the town--in a sea of bubbles! Only Big Anthony, famous for his problem with pasta, could have trouble like this with soap! Award-winning artist/author Tomie dePaola brings us a warm and very funny addition to the stories of his most beloved character, Strega Nona.

Reading age

4 - 8 years
Print length

32 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Lexile measure

AD530L
Publisher

Puffin Books
Publication date

May 12, 2003
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Not Enabled
ISBN-13

978-0142500767
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Readers of all ages can be grateful that dePaola continues to practice his magic so well."-The New York Times Book Review

"A fine choice for both story hours and lap sharing." -Booklist

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934, to a family of Irish and Italian background. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.

His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration, and received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for lifetime contribution to children's literature in 2011.

DePaola has published almost 200 children's books in 15 different countries over the past 30 years. Among his most well-known titles are the Strega Nona series, 26 Fairmount Avenue, and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.

DePaola lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Amazon.com Review

After dreaming about her childhood by the seashore with her beloved grandmother, Strega Nona is distracted, wondering what it could mean. But when she starts giving the villagers the wrong remedies for their stomachaches and headaches, she realizes the answer: it's time for a vacation. Placing her helpers, Bambolona and Big Anthony, in charge of the chores and daily remedies, Strega Nona sets off, with just one warning: "Don't touch the pasta pot!" (Everyone remembers when Big Anthony flooded the village with pasta.) All goes smoothly on Strega Nona's long-awaited holiday--until she sends some gifts home to her children. What harm can it do, Bambolona wonders, if she switches Big Anthony's candy for her own bubble bath. The whole village will soon find out!

Award-winning author and illustrator Tomie dePaola brings back his most beloved character in this charming tale of bumbling innocents and happy memories revisited. As in Strega Nona: Her Story, Strega Nona Meets Her Match, and Big Anthony: His Story, this venerable folk healer and her friends, in their idyllic Mediterranean setting, appeal to readers of all ages. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. After two very convincing dreams marked by advice from her deceased grandmother, Strega Nona decides she needs a vacation. She carefully instructs Bambolona and Big Anthony regarding everything they should (and should not) do and then sets off for some much-needed R and R at the seashore. Later, Bambolona intercepts a package from her employer and, deciding that she prefers candy to bubble bath, switches the gift tags. Big Anthony uses too many of his new bath crystals and creates an avalanche of soapsuds flowing through the town. DePaola's ever-popular characters remain true to form in this latest offering, and series fans will enjoy the references to previous stories. The dream memories, involving a young Nonalina and her attentive grandmother, will also please young listeners. As always, dePaola's rich acrylic illustrations carry the story--sometimes even without the aid of text--making this a fine choice for both story hours and lap sharing. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

There's no rest for a talented strega. At least that's what dePaola's (26 Fairmont Avenue) beloved Italian witch, Strega Nona, concludes in her latest romp. Strega Nona has been dreaming of childhood vacations spent at the seashore with her Grandma Concetta, and in her waking hours, she's distracted, wondering what her dream means. After she nearly confuses several remedies, the villagers recognize the problem: "It looks like Strega Nona needs a vacation." Strega Nona gets the message after Grandma Concetta again visits in a dream, and soon she packs her bags and heads for Concetta's old seaside cottage, leaving her assistantsDsweet, bumbling Big Anthony and practical BambolonaDin charge. She enjoys fishing, swimming and watching sunsets, and sends gifts, candy for Big Anthony and bubble bath for Bambolona. But when Bambolona takes charge of the parcel, she takes the candy for herself and hands the bubble bath to Big Anthony. The resultsDtroublesome and very sudsyDare conveyed almost entirely visually, in warm panel art. The breezy text, peppered with Italian words, hums along as dePaola's sunny, airy acrylics demonstrate his fondness for these favorite characters and the old-world setting. Strega Nona, happily, proves as magical as ever. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-In this latest installment in dePaola's enchanting series, Strega Nona seems to need a break from her demanding job. She dreams of oceanfront vacations spent with her grandmother and begins to make addle-brained mistakes while she works. No fool, the good witch eventually takes the hint and goes on a well-earned holiday, leaving Big Anthony and Bambolona to mind the store in her absence. Everything comes off without a hitch until Bambolona makes one selfish mistake that ends up inconveniencing the entire village of Calabria, bringing Strega Nona home in a huff. However, all's well that ends well. DePaola's transparent acrylic illustrations alternate between full-page pictures and comic-strip storyboards and are as integral to the narration as the text. As with all of dePaola's storybooks, God is in the details, right down to Grandma Concetta's open arms beckoning from heaven in one of Strega Nona's happy dreams.
Catherine T. Quattlebaum, DeKalb County Public Library, Atlanta, GA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EK66C7A
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin Books; Reprint edition (May 12, 2003)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2003
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 11477 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,895 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #223 in Children's Europe & Russia Fiction
- #1,349 in Children's Europe Books
- #3,596 in Children's Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Books

Customer Reviews:
182 ratings

About the author

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Tomie dePaola

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"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.

It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.

He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.

Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.

Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.

- He has been published for over 30 years.

- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.

- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.

- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.

Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:

- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association

- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association

- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution

- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal

- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer reviews

5 star		88%
4 star		9%
3 star		2%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		2%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

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JCI

Fun and imaginative

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

Love the stories, the silly and improbable moments and the sweet endings of all the Strega Nona books.

Helpful

Lee H Weber

My 4 year old loves this series

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

After looking for books about responsibility, we stumbled across this character. I love the illustrations, as do my kids. It is a beautifully written and tender story but requires a little background understanding of the first stories for deeper meaning.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Julia

Great Book For Elementary Children

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

The original Strega Nona book has always been one of my favorites. I ordered this story along with Strega Nona's Harvest to use for a 3rd grade lesson to compare and contrast the story elements within each story. This book was a little more short and sweet than Strega Nona but the kids were still totally engaged by it and still refer back to it today. I used this lesson for an observation and did very well, very glad I decided to order this!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Lisa Marie

Another classic from Tomie DePaola

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2020

Verified Purchase

I think this book is wonderful! I love the Italian words and the change of scenery in this classic tale. Che bella questo libro!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

mrs D

All bent. In terrible shape for a "New" book

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

I paid extra to get a new book. Should have gone used. This book is in worse shape than if I bought it used. Unfortunately, I need it for my class next week, so I am stuck with a beat up, bent book.

Helpful

Marty A.

My twin 4 year old granddaughters love Strega Nona

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

My twin 4 year old granddaughters love Strega Nona. We had been borrowing a copy from our local library, now they have there own copy and will be adding to the collection.

Helpful

Dr. M. C. L. Hewitt

Delightful contribution to the pantheon of tales

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019

A wonderful story

Excellent children's book

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

My nephews like learning the Italian phrases. Excellent book

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

H. Dumpty

A visual treat

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2008

Verified Purchase

I believe this is the seventh in dePaola's Strega Nona series, and this time the clueless Big Anthony, looking more than ever like a scarecrow or one of the Flowerpot Men is seduced by Strega Nona's being on holiday to go back to his old ways of not listening and being too ambitious. While the cat's away....

The storyline is slighter than previous books in the series - less text and more emphasis on the visual - but again beautifully illustrated, mostly done in oranges and turquoise, and cunning use is made of white.

Perhaps not quite as gripping as the previous six, but stiil really good fun.

One person found this helpful

Antonella Cantera

Wonderful! It put the whole family in the mood for a vacation...

Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2013

Verified Purchase

I liked how some pages had many illustrations and few words. The pictures tell the story by themselves. We also love Big Anthony's quirkiness.

William Shaw

Tres Bien

Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2019

Verified Purchase