Page 1:
~Find Strega Nona in the picture. What does she seem to be doing?
~Discuss the setting information. (The setting of a story refers to where the story takes place and when the story takes place.) Does this story seem to be taking place in this country? Is it taking place in the past, in the present, or in the future? What information in the illustration helps you answer these questions?

Pages 2 – 3:
Tomie dePaola uses a comic strip approach on several pages. Talk with your child about the order in which to look at the illustrations.
On page 2, three different characters are with Strega Nona. ~What does Stega Nona appear to be doing? (She seems to be doing something for the people.)

~Do you notice any changes in the characters? Discuss any changes. (The first lady seems happier. In the second strip of illustrations, there’s a man with his hands over his heart who seems to care about the lady. In the last strip, the bump on the man’s nose is gone.)

Pages 4 – 5:
A new character appears. Look at the pictures in order.
~What does the new character seem to be doing in the pictures?

Pages 6 – 7:
These illustrations seem to be about Strega Nona.
~What seems to be going on in these illustrations?
~What do you think is in the pot?

Pages 8 – 9:
~On page 8, how does the man seem to be feeling? What might he be thinking?
~On page 9, what might Strega Nona be saying to the man?
~Talk about the “thought cloud” in the illustration. Discuss that this means that the man is thinking about the pot, not talking to Strega Nona about the pot.

Pages 10 – 11:
~On page 10, where is the man? Why might he be so happy?
~On page 11, what does the man seem to be doing?
~Who are these people? What are the people holding?
~What is in the pot?

Page 12 – 13:
~What are the people doing?
~How is the man feeling? Why might he be feeling this way?

Pages 14 – 15:
~ What does the man seem to be doing?
~What might the woman be saying to the man?
~The peacock is flying away. Where might the peacock be going?

Pages 16 – 19:
Look at the series of illustrations in order.
~What seems to be happening? What might have caused this to happen?
~How does the man seem to be feeling about what is happening?
~Where might the people be going?
~What might the last woman be thinking?

Pages 20 – 21:
~How do the townspeople seem to be feeling?
~What do some of them seem to be doing?
~Can you find something in the illustration that might cause them to be behaving this way?
~Find the man. What might he be thinking?
~Before you turn the page, predict what might be happening on the next page.

Pages 22 – 23:
~Is your prediction correct?
~How are the people feeling now?
~Who has returned to the town?
~What might Strega Nona be thinking?

Pages 24 – 25:
~On page 24, what do you think Strega Nona is doing?
~On page 25, what might the townspeople be saying to Strega Nona?
~What might the townspeople be saying to the man?

Pages 26 – 27:
~Why do you think Strega Nona might be giving the man a fork?
~How is the man feeling? Why might he be feeling this way?

Pages 28 – 30:
~The two characters seem to be feeling very different. Why might their feelings be different?

*After looking at the illustrations, think about any questions that you have that the text might answer. You’ll look for the answers during the Second Reading.