Here is a delightful poem that tells the story of the night before Christmas, when Santa Claus arrives with his reindeer and clambers down the chimney to fill the stockings by the hearth. The text and pictures combine to capture the feeling of magic and excitement, and give a real sense of warmth and Christmas spirit. Tomie dePaola has set the poem in the 1840s, using his own home in a small New Hampshire village as a model. The borders to the pages are based on designs from New England quilts, giving the book a wonderfully nostalgic feel.

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

Tomie dePaola serves as "biographer" to his delightful Italian sorceress, Strega Nona, in this beautifully drawn prequel. The tale begins with little Nona's birth on a dark and stormy night, and ends where the original Strega Nona picks up-with Strega Nona taking on the bumbling, knock-kneed Big Anthony as an apprentice. This winsome story is illustrated throughout with Tomie dePaola's warm and sunny watercolors! "dePaola does a splendid job of working this sparkling tale into the Strega Nona canon." -Publishers Weekly

From award-winning author Tomie dePaola comes a witty and charming Christmas tale about Santa getting ready for his big night until...oh no, he's really got to GO...to the potty! Hurry, Santa! No time to rest, It's Christmas Eve. And time to get dressed! It's finally time for Santa to prepare for the most magical night of the year! But before he can spread Christmas cheer to every boy and girl, he must hurry up and get ready. Just when he's almost out the door, Santa runs back inside because OH NO! Santa's got to GO! Little ones will be chuckling with merry laughter when they find out that even Santa needs to go to the potty!

Enter the marvelous, magical world of Strega Nona! This wonderful treasury features six favorite stories about Strega Nona and her sidekick, the bumbling Big Anthony--including the original Strega Nona, as well as Strega Nona Meets Her Match, Strega Nona: Her Story, Strega Nona Takes a Vacation, Strega Nona's Harvest, and Strega Nona's Gift. Tomie's brand-new introductions to each story take readers behind the scenes to see how Strega Nona's world has developed through the years. Also including an original lullaby--with sheet music and a CD--a map of Strega Nona's town, and some fun recipes, this collection will give readers and music lovers much to savor. Strega Nona, Tomie dePaola's beloved "grandmother witch," has been enchanting readers since the publication of the Caldecott Honor Award-winning Strega Nona in 1975. Strega Nona's gentle humor, irrepressible spirit, and matter-of-fact approach to life have won her legions of fans young and old, and the American Library Association called her "an enduring character who has charmed generations of children."

In My First Christmas, warm illustrations and easy-to-follow text celebrate the joys and traditions of this special holiday. From decorating the tree to putting cookies out for Santa, the Christmas spirit is beautifully captured by Tomie dePaola.

In this beloved classic picture book, Tomie dePaola retells and illustrates an Italian Christmas folk tale, breathing warmth and humanity into the character of the lonely Old Befana and her endless search for the Christ Child.

Every morning and every afternoon, Old Befana sweeps with her broom. “Cranky old lady,” the children say. “She is always sweeping!” Sweep, sweep, sweep.

But when a brilliant star glows in the eastern sky one night, and Old Befana encounters the glorious procession of three kings on their way to Bethlehem, her world will never be the same.

This beautiful new edition of Tomie dePaola's 1978 classic retelling of a French legend stars a little juggler whose unique talent leads him to what might be a Christmas miracle.

Little Giovanni is poor and homeless, but he can do something wonderful: he can juggle.

The people of Sorrento marvel at his talents, and before long, he becomes famous throughout Italy for his rainbow of colored balls that delight the nobility and townspeople alike. But as the years pass, Giovanni grows old, and his talents begin to fail him. No longer a celebrated performer, he is once again poor and homeless, begging for his food.

Until one Christmas Eve, when Giovanni picks up his rainbow of colored balls once more. And what happens next just might be a miracle...

A timeless story inspired by the Book of Job and illustrated by the legendary Tomie dePaola-now reissued as a board book Originally published in 1987 and now available as a board book for the first time, God Is Great,God Is Good showcases Tomie dePaola's unmistakable illustration style against this poetic text based on passages from the Bible's Book of Job.

In Mexico, the poinsettia is called "flor de la Nochebuenao" flower of the Holy Night. At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the quite exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside.

This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child. Beloved Newbery honor-winning author and Caldecott honor-winning illustrator Tomie dePaola has embraced the legend using his own special feeling for Christmas. His glorious paintings capture not only the brilliant colors of Mexico and its art, but also the excitement of the children preparing for Christmas and the hope of Lucida, who comes to see what makes a gift truly beautiful.

What happens when a sheepish knight and a not-so-fierce dragon fight for the very first time? Well, it?s no ordinary battle since the knight has to go to the castle library to learn about dragon-fighting and the dragon must dig through his ancestor?s things to find out how to fight a knight! ?Spontaneity of line and feeling are backed by zesty colors and a jovial, tongue-in-cheek tone to which children can relate?A top springtime choice.? --Booklist ?There?s a swirl of good-humored life to the book.? --The New York Times Book Review