Author Description

Stega 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 on Strega Nona, when she is 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 tries 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?