Brava, Strega Nona!: A Heartwarming Pop-Up Book (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
This came in the mail for my daughter's 2nd birthday from her Nonno and Nonna, but it arrived on a day when I needed it more. We sat on the kitchen floor, in awe of these "paper engineers," and ever more in love with Tomie dePaola. Few books make me cry real tears, but this one did that day on the kitchen floor. My good friend Carter had lunch with dePaola one day and didn't get me a signed copy. I imagine I will hold this against him for a long time. This book would have earned two and a half stars from me if it had been written by Tomie dePaola, but it feels a bit strange to have a Strega Nona book not be written by him. So, I would give "Brava, Strega Nona!" either two or two and a half stars. I actually preferred this book to the original "Strega Nona". Obviously, what really pops out (no pun intended!) at the reader is the remarkably fine quality of the pop-up pictures. This is truly the finest pop-up art that I have yet seen in any book, and it did much to positively enhance the story's ambience. Matthew Reinhart as author also did a surprisingly good job in writing a story with some real depth to it, not just fluff used for the purpose of ornamenting the big pictures. This is a good book. "Always share your love and it will bring you a magical life." —Brava, Strega Nona!
What do You think about Brava, Strega Nona!: A Heartwarming Pop-Up Book (2008)?
Even though I've seen lots of pop-up books, this collaboration between Reinhart and Sabuda wowed me.
—Pixiebook
*Loved* the pop-up artwork, absolutely amazing. Could have done without the text.
—AMD
Q loves pop-up books and this one was exceptionally good.
—oleander
Fabulous engineering and artistry. Charming text.
—miica
