Review Detail

Having grown up reading Strega Nona I was excited to have the opportunity to review Merry Christmas, Strega Nona, and reconnect with a piece of my childhood.

Strega Nona is preparing for the Christmas Day feast in her home. Her assistant Big Anthony is helping her with the preparations, but as readers of Strega Nona know Big Anthony often messes things up. In this book, he forgets to get many of the food items on the shopping list and Strega Nona cancels the feast. The townspeople hear of this and surprise Strega Nona with a feast instead.

What I Liked: This book evoked such a sense of nostalgia for me. As I
read this, I felt as though I was transported back to my childhood, and I enjoyed that connection. I love the little hints of Italian culture scattered throughout Strega Nona, which reminds me of my grandmother. Tomie dePaola has such a distinct illustration style that captures the spirit of Strega Nona well.

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona celebrates the magic of Christmas and is a must-read for a fan of the series.