Tomie dePaola (1934–2020)
Author of Strega Nona
About the Author
Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut on September 15, 1934. He received a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute in 1956, a M.F.A. from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1969, and a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College in 1970. He has written and/or illustrated more than 270 books show more including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, Meet the Barkers, Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs, and Oliver Button Is a Sissy. He has received numerous awards for his work including the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure. His murals and paintings can be seen in many churches and monasteries throughout New England. He has designed greeting cards, magazine and record album covers, and theater sets. His work is shown in galleries and museums. Tomie dePaola died on March 30, 2020 because of complications he had from surgery after a fall. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Tomie dePaola
The Three Friends and the Pumpkins / Go to School / and the Apples / and the Leaves (2000) 8 copies, 1 review
The Andy & Sandy Collection: When Andy Met Sandy; Andy & Sandy's Anything Adventure; Andy & Sandy and the First Snow;… (2017) 5 copies
The Monsters' Ball 3 copies
Strega Nona's Magic Lessons - Story and Picture by Tomie de Paola - First Scholastic Paperback Edition, 1st Printing… (1981) 3 copies
Tomie De Paola 3 copies
Mice Squeak, We Squeak 2 copies
My First Reader 1 copy
Rhyme Time 1 copy
Tomie de Paola 1 copy
Snakes 1 copy
Book 5 1 copy
Book 4 1 copy
Associated Works
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? (1977) — Illustrator, some editions — 1,643 copies, 6 reviews
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) — Illustrator, some editions; Illustrator, some editions — 1,026 copies, 20 reviews
The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding: A Latin American Folktale (1993) — Foreword — 402 copies, 4 reviews
The Book That Changed My Life: 71 Remarkable Writers Celebrate the Books That Matter Most to Them (2006) — Contributor — 399 copies, 18 reviews
Good Morning To You, Valentine: Poems For Valentine's Day (1976) — Illustrator — 76 copies, 5 reviews
Beat the Drum, Independence Day Has Come: Poems for the Fourth of July (1977) — Illustrator — 28 copies, 1 review
With Warmest Regards: A Celebration of Our Customers' Recipes And Traditions: Dayton's, Marshall Field's, Hudson's (1995) — Illustrator — 17 copies
The Rocking-Chair Ghost (1969) — Illustrator, some editions; Illustrator, some editions; Illustrator, some editions — 9 copies
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 6, February 1977 — Cover artist; Illustrator — 3 copies
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 4, December 1978 — Illustrator — 1 copy
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 6, February 1978 — Illustrator — 1 copy
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 11, July 1978 — Illustrator — 1 copy
Cricket Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 11, July 1980 — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- dePaola, Tomie
- Legal name
- dePaolo, Thomas Anthony
- Birthdate
- 1934-09-15
- Date of death
- 2020-03-30
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Meriden, Connecticut, USA
- Place of death
- Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
- Cause of death
- fall, complications
- Places of residence
- California, USA
New London, New Hampshire, USA - Education
- Pratt Institute (BFA)
California College of Arts and Crafts (MFA)
Lone Mountain College - Occupations
- writer
illustrator
artist - Organizations
- Newton College of the Sacred Heart (taught 1962-66)
- Awards and honors
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
University of Southern Mississippi Medallion
Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota
Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution (show all 11)
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (2011)
New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure
Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association (1983)
Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)
Children's Literature Legacy Award (2011) - Agent
- Whiteman, Doug
- Short biography
- [from Michael Bird-Boy, 40th anniversary edition]
TOMIE dePAOLA is one of the most popular children's book authors and illustrators of our time and the winner of the 2011 Children's Literature Legacy Award for "significant and lasting contribution to children's literature", among other lifetime achievement awards. A Newbery Honor winner, he has written and illustrated a number of books, including Caldecott Honor book Strega Nona and its companions, as well as Oliver Button Is a Sissy; The Legend of Old Befana; The Clown of God; Michael Bird-Boy; Andy, That's My Name; and Quiet. A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and now lives in New London, New Hampshire.
Members
Reviews
26 Fairmount Avenue (Newbery Honor Book, 2000) by Tomie dePaola
This is such a delightful story! I read it aloud to my youngest sister recently, and enjoyed it just as much this time as when I heard Mom read it aloud several years ago. This is the kind of book that is enjoyed by all ages. Tomie’s observations of his childhood are both funny, captivating, and, in general, a beautiful picture of a loving family working together for a common goal. There isn’t much in these stories that’s unusual, but somehow, Tomie manages to bring you into his young world and convey a sense of wholesome, sometimes whimsical musings interspersed with everyday life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and my youngest sister did, too—we finished the story in record time! Highly recommended as a gift; this is a treasure to have on any (young or old!) child’s shelf.… (more)
Independent Reader: PreK -3rd (No Words)
Awards: 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
Awards: 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
Lists
Witchy Fiction (1)
Five in a Row (1)
Books About Boys (1)
Wordless Books (1)
Christmas Books (5)
Precious People (4)
Reading Rainbow (4)
4th Grade Books (2)
Sonlight Books (2)
Five in a Row (1)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 222
- Also by
- 77
- Members
- 85,195
- Popularity
- #130
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 1,889
- ISBNs
- 1,475
- Languages
- 14
- Favorited
- 46
