Book Series · 13 Books

Strega Nona Books

In order from Strega Nona to Strega Nona and Her Tomatoes.

Tomie dePaola's beloved Italian folktale world pairs Strega Nona's kindness and practical magic with Big Anthony's enthusiastic mistakes.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated August 12, 2026

Reading order

How to Read the Strega Nona Books

Read the thirteen story books in publication order to see the cast and Strega Nona's past unfold naturally. Most stories still stand alone, and Strega Nona is the clearest introduction.

The Magical World of Strega Nona is a treasury containing six previously published stories and bonus material, not another adventure. The two short 2017 beginning-reader stories are included at the end of the publication order.

Sources: Tomie dePaola estate's Strega Nona bibliography, Simon & Schuster's Strega Nona series.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

The magic is warm and folkloric rather than frightening. Big Anthony often ignores instructions and creates large comic messes; the original book's town-filling pasta and his punishment of eating it are the best-known examples.

Stories draw on Italian village life, food, holidays, family history, and community responsibility. Consequences are humorous and reassuring, with no graphic violence or lasting harm.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Sale price

$858

Book #1 · Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1975

Strega Nona

By Tomie dePaola

A magic pasta pot causes chaos when misused.

40 pages· 1,278 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud

5.3/7 Bookroo

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a quaint Calabrian town, Big Anthony is left alone with Strega Nona's magical pasta pot. Eager to impress, he unleashes its power, but without knowing how to stop it, chaos ensues. As pasta floods the town, can Big Anthony find a way to fix his mistake before it's too late? This humorous tale of magic and mischief will leave you wondering if curiosity truly killed the cat—or just filled the town with pasta.

In reading order

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1993

A rival witch challenges Strega Nona's old-fashioned magic with modern tricks.

#6 in Series

Sale price

$858

Strega Nona, Her Story

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1996

Discover how a young witch's journey begins on a stormy night, leading to unexpected apprenticeships.

#7 in Series

Sale price

$858

Big Anthony, His Story

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1998

Can Italy withstand the chaos of Big Anthony's blunders as he stumbles through life?

#8 in Series

Sale price

$858

Picture Book · Ages 4–6 · 2017

Tomatoes, a goat, and a mix-up—can Strega Nona's plan succeed?

From the same world

In-Universe Books

1 book · Published 2015

Sale price

$3990

The Magical World of Strega Nona

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2015

Discover Strega Nona's magical adventures and secrets in a collection of enchanting tales.

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Strega Nona series?

There are 13 books in the Strega Nona series. It began with Strega Nona in 1975, and the newest book, Strega Nona and Her Tomatoes, was published in 2017.