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.
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