Signed edition

No review from the creatures. They were all asleep.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with Strega Nona,. ( )

From over the mountain Strega Amelia comes to visit Strega Nona and is amazed that Strega Nona has so many clients when she only uses the old ways to help them. Several days later Strega Amelia moves into the village with her new equipment and sets up shop. Slowly all the villagers stop coming to Strega Nona so she has to tell Big Anthony and Bambolona that she has no work for them. Bambolona goes to work at the bakery with her father but Big Anthony gets a job with Strega Amelia. The first weeks are fine but when Strega Amelia leaves for a few days and puts Big Anthony in carge, well, let's jusst say, Strega Nona was back in business shortly!

Just love these little books! ( )

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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. 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. With Strega Nona's purse becoming empty, Bambolona and Big Anthony must be laid off. 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. Soon enough, the townspeople have returned to Strega Nona...

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. Like its predecessors, it pairs a humorously magical story with amusing illustrations. Author/illustrator Tomie dePaola's style is unmistakable, and for someone who grew up with it (as I did), quite comforting. 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. This added to the humor of the conclusion, which is (of course) happy. Recommended to Strega Nona fans, and to picture-book readers who enjoy humorously fantastical stories. ( )