Strega Nona is a good and kindhearted "grandmother witch" who provides cures and magical potions for all the people in her small Italian village of Calabria. As she grows older, Strega Nona decides that she needs a helper, and so she hires Big Anthony, a sweet, but rather dim, young man. At first, Big Anthony is a wonderful helper, but when he spies Strega Nona using her magical pasta pot, which instantly cooks up tasty pasta for the good witch's dinner, he decides that he, too, should be able to perform such magic. Although Strega Nona warns him to never touch her pasta pot, Big Anthony is unable to resist, and as soon as he can, he takes the pot to the town square to prove to the doubtful villagers that he, too, has magical powers. However, Big Anthony doesn't know the true secret of Strega Nona's pot, and although he is able to get it to cook up the pasta, he is unable to get it to stop. Has Big Anthony cooked his goose, or will Strega Nona sweep in to save the day? Watercolor, tempera, and acrylic illustrations accompany the text of this 1976 Caldecott Honor Book.

Grandma Concetta heals everyone with her remedies and advice, and when she retires, she leaves Nona her magic pasta pot with its secret ingredient.

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

." . . de Paola's illustrations aptly capture the whimsey of this ancient tale . . . simple line drawings clearly reveal the agony and ecstasy of pasta power, the muted colors create just the right ambiance for a Medieval village."--"The New York Times." Caldecott Silver Medal; ALA Notable Children's Book; "Horn Book" Honor List. Full color.

." . . de Paola's illustrations aptly capture the whimsey of this ancient tale . . . simple line drawings clearly reveal the agony and ecstasy of pasta power, the muted colors create just the right ambiance for a Medieval village."--"The New York Times." Caldecott Silver Medal; ALA Notable Children's Book; "Horn Book" Honor List. Full color.