Tomie dePaola
Encyclopedia
Thomas Anthony "Tomie A." dePaola (born September 15, 1934), is an American
author
and illustrator
of over 200 children's books, including Caldecott Honor book Strega Nona
and Newbery Honor book 26 Fairmount Avenue
. DePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
in 2011.
to a family of Irish
and Italian
heritage. He had one brother, Joseph (nicknamed Buddy), and two sisters, Judie and Maureen. Maureen is not only Tomie's sister but also his best friend ever. His book The Baby Sister is about Maureen being born. DePaola was attracted to art at an early age and credits his family with encouraging his development as an artist and influencing the themes of his works.
After high school, dePaola attended art school at the Pratt Institute
in Brooklyn
, New York
. DePaola graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree.
DePaola taught art at Newton College of the Sacred Heart
from 1962 to 1966, then moved to California
where he taught at San Francisco College for Women
from 1967 to 1970. He received a Master of Fine Arts
degree from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland
in 1969, as well as a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College
in San Francisco. DePaola relocated to New England
in the 1970s, teaching art at Chamberlayne Junior College in Boston
from 1972 to 1973. From 1973 to 1976 he worked at Colby-Sawyer College
in New London, New Hampshire
, as an associate professor, designer, and technical director in the speech and theater department and as writer and set and costume designer for the Children's Theatre Project. He taught art at New England College
in Henniker, New Hampshire
, from 1976 to 1978. DePaola retired from full-time teaching in 1978 to devote his time to writing and illustrating books.
His first illustrated book was the 1965 science book, Sound.
As an actor, dePaola has appeared in several episodes of Barney & Friends
as himself.
On May 18, 2009, Pratt Institute
honored him with an honorary doctorate.
DePaola currently resides in New London
, New Hampshire
.
for Strega Nona
; a Boston Globe-Horn Book
Honor in 1982 for The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol; the Golden Kite Award
in 1982 for Giorgio's Village; the Aesop Award in 1994 for Christopher, the Holy Giant; the Golden Kite Award
in 1987 for What the Mailman Brought; a 2000 Newbery Honor for 26 Fairmount Avenue
and the 2000 Southwest Book Award from the Border Regional Library Association
for Night of Las Posadas.
In January 2011, dePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
for his lifetime contributions to children's literature.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of over 200 children's books, including Caldecott Honor book Strega Nona
Strega Nona
Strega Nona is an original children's book written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola about an elderly lady who helps her fellow villagers out with their troubles, most notably by curing headaches, helping single women find husbands, and ridding people of warts...
and Newbery Honor book 26 Fairmount Avenue
26 Fairmount Avenue
26 Fairmount Avenue is a 1999 children's novel by Tomie dePaola that won a Newbery Honor.-Plot:The book deals with the early life of Tomie dePaola. He has just moved to a new house in Connecticut and the 1938 hurricane has just hit...
. DePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal is a prize awarded by the American Library Association to writers or illustrators of children's books published in the United States who have over a period of years made substantial and lasting contributions to children's literature...
in 2011.
Biography
DePaola was born in Meriden, ConnecticutMeriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
to a family of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
heritage. He had one brother, Joseph (nicknamed Buddy), and two sisters, Judie and Maureen. Maureen is not only Tomie's sister but also his best friend ever. His book The Baby Sister is about Maureen being born. DePaola was attracted to art at an early age and credits his family with encouraging his development as an artist and influencing the themes of his works.
After high school, dePaola attended art school at the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. DePaola graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
degree.
DePaola taught art at Newton College of the Sacred Heart
Newton College of the Sacred Heart
Newton College of the Sacred Heart was a small women's liberal arts college in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. It opened in 1946 and merged with Boston College in June 1974....
from 1962 to 1966, then moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he taught at San Francisco College for Women
Lone Mountain College
Lone Mountain College was a college acquired by the University of San Francisco in 1978. It was founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart as Sacred Heart Academy in Menlo Park, California in 1898 and became College of the Sacred Heart in 1921...
from 1967 to 1970. He received a Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
degree from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
in 1969, as well as a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College
Lone Mountain College
Lone Mountain College was a college acquired by the University of San Francisco in 1978. It was founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart as Sacred Heart Academy in Menlo Park, California in 1898 and became College of the Sacred Heart in 1921...
in San Francisco. DePaola relocated to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in the 1970s, teaching art at Chamberlayne Junior College in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
from 1972 to 1973. From 1973 to 1976 he worked at Colby-Sawyer College
Colby-Sawyer College
Colby–Sawyer College is a private, comprehensive baccalaureate college situated on a campus in New London, in the Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire, founded as a coeducational academy in 1837.- New London Academy :...
in New London, New Hampshire
New London, New Hampshire
New London is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,397 at the 2010 census.The town center, where 1,415 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the New London census-designated place , and is located on a hilltop along New Hampshire Route 114 north...
, as an associate professor, designer, and technical director in the speech and theater department and as writer and set and costume designer for the Children's Theatre Project. He taught art at New England College
New England College
New England College is a private four-year college in Henniker, New Hampshire, enrolling a total of approximately 1800 undergraduate and graduate students.-History:The school was created in 1946 for students attending college on the G.I...
in Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker, New Hampshire
Henniker is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 4,836. Henniker is home to New England College, Ames State Forest and Craney Hill State Forest....
, from 1976 to 1978. DePaola retired from full-time teaching in 1978 to devote his time to writing and illustrating books.
His first illustrated book was the 1965 science book, Sound.
As an actor, dePaola has appeared in several episodes of Barney & Friends
Barney & Friends
Barney and Friends, also referred to by HiT Entertainment as Barney the Friendly Dinosaur, is an independent children's television show produced in the United States, aimed at children from ages 1-8...
as himself.
On May 18, 2009, Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
honored him with an honorary doctorate.
DePaola currently resides in New London
New London, New Hampshire
New London is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,397 at the 2010 census.The town center, where 1,415 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the New London census-designated place , and is located on a hilltop along New Hampshire Route 114 north...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Awards
DePaola's awards include a 1976 Caldecott HonorCaldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
for Strega Nona
Strega Nona
Strega Nona is an original children's book written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola about an elderly lady who helps her fellow villagers out with their troubles, most notably by curing headaches, helping single women find husbands, and ridding people of warts...
; a Boston Globe-Horn Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards were first presented by The Boston Globe and Horn Book Magazine in 1967. They are among the most prestigious honors in the United States in the field of children’s and young adult literature...
Honor in 1982 for The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol; the Golden Kite Award
Golden Kite Award
The Golden Kite Awards are given annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to recognize excellence in children’s literature. Instituted in 1972, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers...
in 1982 for Giorgio's Village; the Aesop Award in 1994 for Christopher, the Holy Giant; the Golden Kite Award
Golden Kite Award
The Golden Kite Awards are given annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to recognize excellence in children’s literature. Instituted in 1972, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers...
in 1987 for What the Mailman Brought; a 2000 Newbery Honor for 26 Fairmount Avenue
26 Fairmount Avenue
26 Fairmount Avenue is a 1999 children's novel by Tomie dePaola that won a Newbery Honor.-Plot:The book deals with the early life of Tomie dePaola. He has just moved to a new house in Connecticut and the 1938 hurricane has just hit...
and the 2000 Southwest Book Award from the Border Regional Library Association
Border Regional Library Association
The Border Regional Library Association promotes libraries and librarianship in the tri-border region of West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Chihuahua, Mexico. The non-profit organization was founded in 1966 and, as of 2009, has over 100 members including libraries, librarians, trustees,...
for Night of Las Posadas.
In January 2011, dePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal is a prize awarded by the American Library Association to writers or illustrators of children's books published in the United States who have over a period of years made substantial and lasting contributions to children's literature...
for his lifetime contributions to children's literature.