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Tomie dePaola

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Tomie A. dePaola (Thomas Anthony dePaola) (born September 15, 1934), U.S. author and illustrator of many books for children and adults, including Strega Nona, 26 Fairmount Avenue and Christmas Remembered. DePaola has illustrated over 200 books, and of these books, he has written over 100 stories. As well as having tremendous success in writing and illustrating, "he has designed posters, greeting cards, and stage sets," and has taught at various colleges both in California and New England.[1] His newest books are Tomie dePaola's Front Porch Tales & North Country Whoppers and I Love You, Mouse, by John Graham. He is currently working on Brava, Strega Nona, a Heartwarming Pop-up Book with paper engineering by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. Publication will be October 30, 2008.

Biography

DePaola was born and raised in Meriden, Connecticut. DePaola was raised in an Irish/Italian family with a brother Joseph and two sisters, Judie and Maureen. From an early age, dePaola was renowned for his love of the arts whether it was drawing, writing, singing or dancing. His strong family ties and encouragement from both his mother and brother are said to be the big influence in dePaola’s development of his talent as an artist. His mother, Florence (Downey) dePaola read to Tomie daily as a child which lead him to develop a gift in creating his own books for his younger siblings. One book that he both authored and illustrated was Glimmera, the Story of a Mermaid. DePaola maintained his love of the arts through "art classes and creating art for exhibitions, theater productions, posters and many other things."[2]

After high school, dePaola attended art school at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He worked there and said that he “spent four years learning how to draw everything - tin cans, dogs, cats, horses, trees - and I practiced and practiced." His practice paid off when after four year there, he graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

After graduating in 1956, dePaola then worked as an art professor at Newton College of the Sacred Heart for four years, he moved to California where he taught at San Francisco College for Women and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, as well as a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. From 1956 until 1979, dePaola taught numerous colleges in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

It was about 22 years after dePaola graduated from Pratt Institute that he was contracted to do his first illustration for a science book called Sound. Shortly after this, "he wrote and illustrated his first book, The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin."[2]

Successes

DePaola’s career flourished and he combined his professional career as a teacher in New England with his success as an author/illustrator where he sometimes produced up to 4 books per year. His work is seen in many settings from church walls to greeting cards.[3]

Current works

DePaola's latest book is Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka and is about the laziest man in the world.[4] He is currently working on a children’s book about New England Folktales which is scheduled to be published in 2009.

DePaola currently resides in New London, New Hampshire. He is the proud owner of an Airedale dog, Bronte. He has two other breeds of dogs too.

As an actor dePaola has appeared in several episodes of Barney & Friends as himself.

Books by dePaola

A series of fictional stories based on a witch or "Strega" named 'Nona' who lives in Italy. The stories are comical in which you meet a variety of amusing characters such as 'Big Anthony' and 'Strega Amelia.'

A creatively illustrated non-fiction text that teaches children the history of popcorn in a friendly and inviting way.

References

  1. ^ Meet the Author/Illustrator Tomie dePaola
  2. ^ a b tomie.com
  3. ^ Tomie dePaola : Teacher Resource File
  4. ^ Interview with dePaola

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