Childrens Book Review of Brava, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola, Number Nine in the Series

The life story of Strega Nona in peninsular Italy’s southwesternmost region of hilly, sunny Calabria can be accessed:

• Bit by bit in the series’ various installments;
• In one fell swoop through Brava, Strega Nona!: A Heartwarming Pop-up Book in 2008 and with Strega Nona: Her Story from 1996.

The first-mentioned biography emerges as a child’s equivalent of inspirational literature -- preceded by autobiographical pictures and words -- while the second-mentioned narrative functions as a third-person compilation of information straight from the autobiographical source herself. The former source then leads into the most personal interaction thus far with Calabria’s Grandma Witch Nona since -- unlike the latter -- it gives Strega Nona’s philosophical perspectives on life’s magic-filled aspects.

Extraordinary and ordinary people alike access six magic-filled aspects to life. Miracles happen every day because of:

• Celebrations;
• Family;
• Foods;
• Friends;
• Love;
• Patience.

Each ingredient is accompanied by its equivalent in Italian. It also links with its own interactive pop-up which stands about 8 – 9 inches (20.32 – 22.86 centimeters) up from the page, with:

• A bounteous feast for food;
• A genealogical tree for family;
• Houses with people-filled doors and windows which close and open;
• Overflowing pasta for patience, from Big Anthony’s forbidden access to Strega Nona’s self-actuating pot;
• Village square dominated by a water-twirling fountain and filled with people.

And last but not least, the secret ingredient of love warrants a huggable stand-up of Grandma Witch Nona.

Brava, Strega Nona!: A Heartwarming Pop-up Book accommodates parents, readers, and teachers of all ages. It carries simple, timeless, upbeat deep truths whose message of enduring, reassuring wisdom can be summarized as “Life is filled with magic because of celebrations, family, food, friends, love, and patience.” It unforgettably communicates the above-mentioned life-affirming, magical, miraculous words thanks to the glorious inputs of:

• Tomie dePaola as author and illustrator;
• G.P. Putnam’s Books for Young Readers as publisher;
• Matthew Reinhart as illustrator and paper engineer;
• Robert Sabuda as illustrator and paper engineer.  

Originally released in 2008, the storybook cooperates with group- and individual-tailored activities which relate to:

• Cultural enrichment;
• Educational entertainment;
• Family fun;
• Folkloric, pop-up, and 3-D art;
• Italian language-learning.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Tomie dePaola sets his Strega Nona series in Calabria, a sea-blessed region in the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula.
night view of Sicily (left) and Southern Italy, with Calabria in "boot's toe" (right) obtained Sep. 27, 2014, aboard International Space Station at 221 nautical miles above Earth (NASA ID: iss041e045376)
image by German European Space Agency astronaut Alex Gerst (born May 3, 1976), ISS Expedition 41 (Sep. 10-Nov. 10, 2014): Not subject to copyright, via NASA Image and Video Library @ https://images.nasa.gov/details-iss041e045376

Pop-ups provide aesthetic, fun, tactile rapport with Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona story.
pop-up of Strega Nona as epitome of love: preview via Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Brava-Strega-Nona-Heartwarming-Pop-Up/dp/0399244530/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&tag=page0b-20

Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona is a timeless character whose life style highlights the natural beauty of town and village life in rural Calabria.
town of Santa Severina, Crotone Province, eastern Calabria: Ggia, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20100803_Santa_Severina_Calabria_Italy_Panorama.jpg

"Vidéo Tomie Depaola Brava Strega Nona" (1:14)
Uploaded May 6, 2012, by Oh pop-up créations Laparade julien to YouTube ~ URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-QPMAvgYwc

dePaola, Tomie. 2008. Brava, Strega Nona! A Heartwarming Pop-Up Book. Paper engineered by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Books for Young Readers.

Matthew Reinhart.com. WordPress Theme by Kadence Themes. Retrieved January 3, 2015.

• Available at: http://www.matthewreinhart.com/