Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family
of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a
pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to
create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in
Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts
& Crafts in Oakland, California. It drove him through the years of
teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting
church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's
book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of
other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and
illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as
major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique
style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have
earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among
them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal
from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the
University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's
literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for
his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of
Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States
nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen
different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of
books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each
year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four
dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition
forhis books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association
copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All
rights reserved.
"Kicking off a series by the same name, dePaola recounts some memorable moments from . . .[his] early years, surrounded by loving family members and friends." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
Kicking off a series by the same name, dePaola's effervescent chapter book recounts some memorable moments from the author's early years, surrounded by loving family members and friends. Fans will recognize a few of the cast members from the author's various autobiographical picture books. Organized as an engaging pastiche of memories from 1938 to 1939, the story's primary focus is the snafu-plagued construction and landscaping of the dePaola family's "first and only house," in Meriden, Conn. Within this clever framework, other diverting vignettes surface: during the hurricane of 1938, dePaola's mother sprinkles holy water on a terrified neighbor for protection; young Tomie generously shares "chocolates" he finds hidden in the bathroom with his Nana Upstairs (they turn out to be laxatives); and on the first day of kindergarten, when he learns that reading is not taught until first grade, he announces, "Fine, I'll be back next year," and heads home. DePaola successfully evokes the voice of a precocious, inquisitive five-year-old everyone would want to befriend. Charming black-and-white illustrations animate the scenes and add a period flare, including a photo album-like assemblage of the characters' portraits at the book's start. Readers will also appreciate a glimpse of the artist's early debut as he draws life-size images of his family on the plasterboard walls in his new house. DePaola seems as at home in this format as he did when he first crossed the threshold of 26 Fairmount Avenue, an address readers will eagerly revisit in the series' subsequent tales. Ages 7-11. (Apr.)
"Kicking off a series by the same name, dePaola recounts some memorable moments from . . .[his] early years, surrounded by loving family members and friends." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
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