We don't recommend calling your nana "Grandma Witch," but we have to say: the nickname fits Tomie dePaola's famous folktale heroine perfectly.

Strega Nona is one-part shaman (a.k.a. witch, or in Italian, "strega") and one-part nurturing, old woman (a.k.a. grandma, or in Italian, "nonna"). And it's precisely because she's one-part witch and one-part grandmother that the people in her village both whisper about her and seek her out when they have problems. From page one, it's pretty easy to see why her dual qualities of mysticism and maternalism are such a winning combination—as a village elder and as a picture book character.

In Strega Nona, we learn about Strega Nona's magic pasta pot and witness the hilarious catastrophe that occurs when her assistant, Big Anthony (who doesn't pay attention), messes with it. This story, a retelling of "Sweet Porridge," by the Brothers Grimm, was supposed to be a one-off: Strega Nona's singular shot at fame. But it seems that the character's mystical powers extend beyond the pages of a single book. In fact, her origin story is a little bit magical itself.

The idea for the character Strega Nona came to Tomie dePaola spontaneously. He created her almost by accident when he was doodling images of Pulcinella during a faculty meeting. (Psst! Mr. dePaola freely admits he always sat in the back row at these meetings so he could draw.) What started out as Pulcinella with his big nose and big chin, was transformed into an old woman when dePaola added a headscarf, a chubby body, and a skirt with an apron. Just like that, Strega Nona was born, and dePaola was delighted with what he had almost unconsciously created.

And after the first book—which was supposed to be her only book—was done, Strega Nona stuck around. Tomie dePaola has often said that Strega Nona whispers to him when she has a new story to share, and apparently, she's had many over the years. There are now more than fifteen Strega Nona books, and dePaola and his plucky character may not be done yet.

Of course, another reason Strega Nona has inspired so many sequels is that the character's first appearance was so well received. Strega Nona earned a Caldecott Honor Award in 1976, and dePaola's books have been translated into about 25 languages (source) since then.

So…what are you waiting for? Open the book and let your magical Strega Nona journey begin.

This book confuses a lot of people. Yes, really.

Why? Because it was published in 1975.

Don't get us wrong—1975 was a fine year, even if people did dress like this back then. The thing about Strega Nona is that people tend to think it's much, much older than the pet rock trend of the 1970s. But it isn't.

Tomie dePaola set out to write Strega Nona when his editor suggested he should think about retelling and illustrating a folktale. Instead of simply rewriting an old tale, however, dePaola decided to take the bones of one of his favorites ("The Porridge Pot," a.k.a. "Sweet Porridge," by the Brothers Grimm) and recreate it with his own characters and in his own setting. The main character, Strega Nona, who went on to star in several more books by dePaola, was a completely original creation. In 1975. And yet people tend to believe she is a character from the folk tales of old, right up there with Brer Rabbit and Coyote.

As dePaola wrote in The Magical World of Strega Nona: A Treasury, he's been told by multiple people how happy they are that someone has finally put "the Strega Nona stories" in a book (source). As if "the Strega Nona stories" are a collection that predates Tomie dePaola. Oops.

That tells us two things: (1) that dePaola did a great job creating a character who, despite her 1975 roots, fits seamlessly into the context of historical folklore; and (2) that Strega Nona herself deserves every last sequel that followed her debut book.

So go ahead: read the book, and feel free to care. Just don't be confused.