Strega Nona's Harvest

Strega Nona welcomes spring by planting her annual vegetable garden, carefully following her traditions and methods. When her helper Big Anthony decides to plant his own garden, he takes a different approach. The story follows the growing season as two gardens develop in parallel, with Big Anthony encountering various challenges while Strega Nona tends to her plants. The contrast between their gardening styles leads to unexpected results at harvest time. This tale combines elements of magic with practical lessons about patience, planning, and the rewards of careful work. The story highlights the value of traditional wisdom while celebrating the spirit of generosity.

Parents and educators report this book teaches gardening concepts and values like sharing and responsibility. Many note it maintains the charm of other Strega Nona stories while adding practical lessons about planting and harvesting. Readers appreciate: - Clear gardening instructions that children can follow - dePaola's signature illustrations - The community sharing message - Integration with classroom garden units Common critiques: - Less magical/whimsical than other Strega Nona books - Some find the story slower-paced - Not as memorable as the original Strega Nona Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (657 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (108 ratings) "Perfect for teaching kids about gardens and giving to others," writes one teacher on Goodreads. An Amazon reviewer notes: "My preschoolers request this book weekly during planting season." Multiple librarians mention using it successfully in storytimes about gardening, though some note younger children may lose interest partway through.

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert A child and parent plant, tend, harvest, and prepare vegetables from their garden into soup.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown A boy transforms his city by nurturing an abandoned garden and inspiring his community to create green spaces.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner A grandmother and granddaughter work through the seasons in their garden while discovering the hidden world of creatures beneath the soil.

City Green by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan A girl rallies her neighbors to transform an empty city lot into a community garden that brings people together.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney A woman fulfills her grandfather's wishes by traveling the world and planting flowers to make the world more beautiful.

🌱 Strega Nona ("Grandma Witch" in Italian) is a beloved character who first appeared in 1975 and has featured in more than a dozen books by Tomie dePaola. 🌿 The gardening methods shown in the book reflect authentic Italian folk traditions, including planting by the phases of the moon, which many gardeners still practice today. 🍅 Author Tomie dePaola was of Irish and Italian descent, and his grandmother's stories about life in Italy inspired many of his most popular characters and tales. 🌻 The book subtly teaches children about important values like planning, patience, and sharing with others—all through the lens of growing a vegetable garden. 🌺 The illustrations in the book feature dePaola's signature style and the warm earth tones characteristic of traditional Italian countryside settings, which he researched extensively during his travels in Italy.