Tomie DePaola Quotes

In a town in Calabria, a long time ago, there lived an old lady everyone called Strega Nona, which meant “Grandma Witch”.

“Although all the people in town talked about her in whispers, they all went to see her if they had troubles. Even the priest and the sister of the convent went, because Strega Nona did have a magic touch.”

“She could cure a headache, with oil and water and a hairpin. She made special potions for the girls who wanted husbands.”

“The one thing you must never do,” said Strega Nona, “is touch the pasta pot. It is very valuable and I don’t let anyone touch it!”

“Now, wait,” said Strega Nona. “The punishment must fit the crime.”

“I’ll show them!” he said to himself. “Someday I will get the pasta pot and make it cook! And then they’ll be sorry.”

“Everyone get forks and plates and platters and bowls. Pasta for all at Strega Nona’s house. Big Anthony has made the magic pasta pot work.”

“Big Anthony was a hero! He scooped out pasta and filled the plates and platters and bowls. ”

″‘Stop!’ yelled Big Anthony. But the pasta did not stop and if someone hadn’t grabbed poor Big Anthony, the pasta would have covered him up. ”

“Bubble, bubble, pasta pot, Boil me some pasta, nice and hot, I’m hungry and it’s time to sup, Boil enough pasta to fill me up.”

“Enough, enough, pasta pot, I have my pasta, nice and hot, So simmer down my pot of clay, Until I’m hungry another day.”

“But too bad for Big Anthony, because he didn’t see Strega Nona blow three kisses to the magic pasta pot.”