The Trials and Triumphs of Big Anthony and the Magical Ring

By admin

Big Anthony and the Magic Ring is a children's book written by Tomie dePaola. It tells the humorous story of Big Anthony, a character from the book "Strega Nona," who happens to come across a magical ring. The story takes place in a small village in Italy, where Big Anthony lives. In the beginning of the story, Big Anthony sees Strega Nona, a wise old woman and the village's beloved witch, using her magic to help the villagers. Big Anthony becomes intrigued by the idea of having magical powers himself. One day, he discovers a ring in Strega Nona's house and decides to try it on.


Big Anthony has a case of spring fever and he needs a little Night Life to cheer him up!

He was the recipient of the Newbery Honor, Caldecott Honor, and the 2011 Children s Literature Legacy Award for significant and lasting contribution to children s literature. As someone who read and enjoyed Strega Nona countless times as a girl, but who never knew about the many sequels, I was happy to finally pick up Big Anthony and the Magic Ring , which is every bit as entertaining as its predecessor.

Big anthony and the magiic ring

One day, he discovers a ring in Strega Nona's house and decides to try it on. To his surprise, the ring gives him the power to make wishes come true. Excited by his newfound abilities, Big Anthony starts making all kinds of wishes without considering the consequences.

Big Anthony and the Magic Ring

When Big Anthony borrows Strega Nona's magic ring to turn himself into a handsome man, he gets more trouble than fun.

User reviews

LibraryThing member sbhoward321

Big Anthony, Strega Nona's assistant, gets spring fever and Strega Nona tells him to go and have a little Night Life. After Strega Nona told Anthony to go out dancing, Strega Nona decided she wanted to have herself a little Night Life. Anthony watched her and Strega Nona put on a magic ring which

Show More

made her turn into a beautiful young woman and went out dancing. Anthony wanted to try this and become the most handsome man in all of Calabria, so he waited until Strega Nona left and took her ring. He became the most handsome man and all the women started chasing him, so he wanted to become his old self again, but could not get the ring off. He ran into Strega Nona and she put olive oil on his finger to get it off and he turned back into his old self.

Show Less LibraryThing member LanitaBostic

Big Anthony was helper to Strega Nona. He worked very hard all winter. As the seasons changed, Big Anthony grew more tired every day. Strega Nona diagnosed him with spring fever. She told Big Anthony that he needed a taste of the night life. Strega Nona wanted a taste as well. She worked her magic

Show More

to make herself beautiful before going to the dance. Of course, Big Anthony saw her and waited to the right moment to steal a little magic for himself. When he did so, he got himself into trouble again. As usual, Strega Nona had to fix his mess. The story is great for teaching a lesson on consequences for touching other peoples things or following rules that have been set for you.

Show Less LibraryThing member jenvid

Anthony has done it again! Strega Nona leaves, and he takes a magical ring. The ring turns him into a handsome man, and the ladies chase him all over town. This is a funny tale, and it teaches that something might go wrong when warned not to do something. This is a wonderful tale to read during

Show More

story time. As an activity, I could have my students write what they would like to have as a super power, and then they would have to write a chant to turn into that power. This would allow my students to practice their writing skills.

Show Less LibraryThing member kidlit9

When Big Anthony borrows Strega Nona's magic ring to turn himself into a handsome man, he gets more trouble than fun.

LibraryThing member ecosborne

This book is about Big Anthony feeling down so Strega Nona says he should go out to the dance. Strega Nona thinks its a good idea and she uses a magic ring to make her young and beautiful and she goes dancing however Big Anthony sees and the following day he borrows the ring to make him handsome

Show More

but it ends badly as the ring gets stuck. This is a very funny story with a nice moral to it that wishing for what you don't have can only end in tears.

Show Less LibraryThing member fashionablyloud1 Love all the "magic" of the story! LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

Spring has come, and Big Anthony is feeling a bit fuzzy-headed in this sequel to the Caldecott Honor-winning Strega Nona. Advised by his employer to go into town and enjoy some night life, Big Anthony doesn't feel particularly motivated. Then he witnesses Strega Nona using her magic ring to

Show More

transform herself into a beauty, trotting off to enjoy the tarantella. No sooner has Strega Nona gone off, than Big Anthony takes her ring and tries the same thing. Now a desperately handsome man, he finds that all that attention can have its downside. Will Strega Nona arrive in time to save him from his folly.

It's another delightful adventure with Big Anthony and Strega Nona, as the witch's servant once again attempts to use her magic, only to find that he hasn't the skill or knowledge to do so properly. As someone who read and enjoyed Strega Nona countless times as a girl, but who never knew about the many sequels, I was happy to finally pick up Big Anthony and the Magic Ring, which is every bit as entertaining as its predecessor! I enjoyed both story and artwork here, and finished the book with a desire to continue on with the series about these characters. Recommended to anyone who loved Strega Nona, or who enjoys magical stories with a humorous bent.

Show Less LibraryThing member cyderry

Big Anthony is at it again when he sees Strega Nona transformed into a beautiful young lady with the magic from her golden ring, he decides that he'll try it too. The ring transforms him into a handsome young man but when he is overrun by the young ladies in the village he cannot get the ring off

Show More

to change back. He reaches Strega Nonna and vows to stay away from her magic.

So cute! I love these stories!

but it ends badly as the ring gets stuck. This is a very funny story with a nice moral to it that wishing for what you don't have can only end in tears.
Big anthony and the magiic ring

He wishes for a feast, and suddenly the village is flooded with food. He wishes for a garden filled with flowers, and the entire village is covered in blooms. However, each wish brings unintended chaos and disorder. As the villagers grow tired of the mess caused by Big Anthony's wishes, they quickly turn against him. Realizing his mistake, Big Anthony seeks help from Strega Nona to fix the situation. Strega Nona advises him to use the ring's power wisely and responsibly. She warns him of the dangers of using magic without considering the consequences. Learning his lesson, Big Anthony decides to undo his wishes and restore the village to its original state. He apologizes to the villagers and learns the importance of thinking before acting. In the end, Big Anthony returns the magic ring to Strega Nona, happy to have learned from his mistakes. "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring" is a tale that teaches children about the consequences of their actions and the importance of thinking before making decisions. Tomie dePaola's charming illustrations and engaging storytelling make it an enjoyable read for young readers..

Reviews for "The Magic of Big Anthony: A Story of Growth and Learning"

1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring". The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and didn't offer any surprises. The illustrations were also quite basic and didn't add much to the overall reading experience. I was expecting more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell short in many aspects.
2. James - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish reading "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring". The writing style was incredibly boring and the storyline was uninteresting. The dialogue felt forced and the humor fell flat. I didn't feel engaged with the characters and their motivations were unclear. Overall, this book didn't capture my attention at all and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring" to be uninspiring. The plot felt rushed and the resolution was too convenient. The message of the story was also quite predictable and cliché. The illustrations lacked creativity and seemed hastily done. Although it might entertain very young children, older readers will likely find this book uninteresting and forgettable.

Big Anthony and the Magic Ring: Lessons in Responsibility

Big Anthony's Magic Ring: Friend or Foe?