Strega Nona Meets Her Match by Tomie dePaola

Also, the storytelling gets extremely hilarious when Big Anthony tried to do everything right for Strega Amelia, but ends up running all the machines backwards and ruining Strega Amelia’s chance for a profitable business. Tomie dePaola’s storytelling is clever and funny as he details Strega Nona’s efforts to get her job back from Strega Amelia. Strega Nona is back again and this time she faces her biggest challenge yet… Strega Amelia! Tomie dePaola did an excellent job on both the illustrations and the story and therefore, makes “Strega Nona meets her match” an instant treat. Recommended to Strega Nona fans, and to picture-book readers who enjoy humorously fantastical stories. This added to the humor of the conclusion, which is (of course) happy. I thought, going in, that perhaps Big Anthony was going to pull a fast one, and intentionally sabotage Strega Amelia, but as it turns out, he didn't need to intend to do it, for it to happen, something Strega Nona, in all her wisdom, obviously expected. Author/illustrator Tomie dePaola's style is unmistakable, and for someone who grew up with it (as I did), quite comforting. Like its predecessors, it pairs a humorously magical story with amusing illustrations. Strega Nona Meets Her Match is the fifth picture-book featuring the eponymous 'Grandmother Witch,' who made her debut in 1975, in the Caldecott Honor-winning Strega Nona. Soon enough, the townspeople have returned to Strega Nona. The latter gets a job with Strega Amelia, who is not wise to his ways, and leaves him in charge while she heads out of town for a few days.

With Strega Nona's purse becoming empty, Bambolona and Big Anthony must be laid off. Thinking that her own, updated methods will be more successful, Strega Amelia moves to town, and soon enough all of the townspeople are going to her shop to have their problems solved. When Strega Nona's friend, Strega Amelia, comes for a visit, the other witch is surprised to find that Strega Nona maintains the old ways.

Strega Nona Meets Her Match by Tomie dePaola