In the town of Calabria, Strega Nona is visited by her friend Strega Amelia who, in an act of betrayal, sets up a modern cure shop to compete with Strega Nona's old fashioned cure shop. Reprint. H. SLJ.

From Publishers Weekly
Despite the seven-year absence of Strega Nona (last seen in Merry Christmas, Strega Nona ), her faithful fans won't be fooled by the pessimistic title of her new adventure: this witch has more than one potion up her sleeve. When Strega Amelia (a witch with a flair for fancy robes and fancy contraptions) pays a visit to her longtime friend, she is so impressed by the crowds queuing up for cures each morning that she promptly sets up a shop of her own. Proffering sweets, cappuccino and the use of exotic machinery, Amelia lures away all of Strega Nona's customers, even hiring Big Anthony to be her assistant. The newly unemployed Strega Nona blesses the partnership, but readers will begin to discern mischief at work: With Big Anthony around, can disaster be far behind? DePaola once again decants the charm of a sleepy Italian village with his Tuscan-toned watercolors and a sprinkling of Italian words and phrases. A palette of warm pinks and purples lends extra cheeriness to the tale. Strega Nona (a witch with as much sense as sorcery skills) ultimately prevails, humorously underscoring the message that the tried-and-true is often best. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5-7. When Strega Amelia comes to Strega Nona's village and sets up her own rival business in lotions, potions, and matchmaking, she uses free sweets and cappuccino to draw customers away from her old friend. Strega Nona's customers desert her, and soon she can no longer afford to pay her helpers. The hapless Big Anthony goes to work for Strega Amelia, who leaves him in charge one day, with results that Strega Nona fans will find deliciously predictable. De Paola's watercolor illustrations seem bolder, brighter, and more comical than in the original story. While children who know the earlier books will be one step ahead, this engaging picture book will please those new to the series as well. A pleasure to read aloud, this features the broad humor that young children relish. Carolyn Phelan