Tomie dePaola
| Tomie dePaola | |
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| Born | Thomas Anthony dePaola September 15, 1934 Meriden, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1965–present |
| Genres | Children's picture books, folklore, educational paperbacks |
| Notable work(s) | Strega Nona |
| Notable award(s) | Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal 2011 |
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Thomas Anthony dePaola (born September 15, 1934), is an American author and illustrator of more than 200 children's books, best known for picture books such as Strega Nona.[1][2] He received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his career contributions to children's literature in 2011.[3]
Biography
DePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut to a family of Irish and Italian heritage. He had one brother, Joseph (nicknamed Buddy), and two sisters, Judie and Maureen. His book The Baby Sister is about Maureen being born.[4] 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.[5]
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.[5]
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.[5] He provided illustrations for the children's book Maggie and the Monster Baby (Holiday House, 1987) by Elizabeth Winthrop.
His first illustrated book was the 1965 science book, Sound.[6]
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.[7]
Awards
In January 2011, dePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal by the American Library Association recognizing his cumulative "significant and lasting contributions to children's literature". Nineteen writers and illustrators have received the Medal, which is biennial since 2001.[3]
For single works he has won the 1983 Golden Kite Award, Picture Book Illustration, from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for Giorgio's Village, which he also wrote.[8] He won the 1994 Aesop Prize from the American Folklore Society for Christopher, the Holy Giant[8] and the 2000 Southwest Book Award from the Border Regional Library Association for Night of Las Posadas.[9]
DePaola has been a runner-up for the 1976 Caldecott Medal (Strega Nona), the 1982 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (The Friendly Beasts: An Old English Christmas Carol), the 1987 Golden Kite Award (What the Mailman Brought), and the 2000 Newbery Medal (26 Fairmount Avenue).[8] The Caldecott and Newbery Medals are the American Library Association's premier annual awards for picture book illustration and children's book writing respectively.
He won the 2000 Jeremiah Ludington Memorial Award from the Educational Paperback Association for his cumulative "significant contribution to the educational paperback business".[5]
Works
Strega Nona series
Memoir series
Big Books
About growing up and his family
Bill and Pete books
The Barkers
Board books for the very young
Video (in DVD format)
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Legends, folktales and stories
Religious or holiday stories
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References
- ^ "Meet the Author/Illustrator Tomie dePaola". Authors and Illustrators. Houghton Mifflin Reading. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
- ^ Mehegan, David. "He simply knows his audience: Tomie dePaola writes (and writes and writes) for kids, not for acclaim". The Boston Globe. December 10, 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ a b "Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, Past winners". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). ALA.
"About the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award". ALSC. ALA. Retrieved 2013-03-10. - ^ http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/faq.html
- ^ a b c d "dePaola, Tomie". Children's Author/Illustrator Biographies. Educational Book & Media Association (edupaperback.org). n.d. Retrieved 2013-03-10. (Possibly reprinted from Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, 2nd ed., Gale Group, 2002.)
- ^ http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/bio.html
- ^ http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/index.html
- ^ a b c "Birthday Bios: Anthony dePaola". Children's Literature Network. 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "BRLA 2000 Southwest Book Awards." Border Regional Library Association. 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- "DePaola Papers in Kerlan Collection." School Library Journal March 1989: 88. Print.
- Elleman, Barbara. "A research project on the art of Tomie dePaola." Book Links Nov. 99: 21+. Print.
- ___. "Depaola, Tomie." Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature. N.p.: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd, 2003. Print.
- Insana, Linal. "Strega Nona's Ethnic Alchemy: Magic Pasta, Stregheria and That Amazing Disappearing 'N'." MELUS 31.2 (Summer 2006): 207-243. Print.
- Lodge, Sally. "Tomie dePaola Mines his Childhood Memories." Publishers Weekly 15 March 1999: 26. Print.
- Polk, Nancy. "Memories Make for his Many Ideas." New York Times 14 Nov. 1999: 19. Print.
- "Tomie De Paola." Current Biography Feb. 1999: 18+. Print.
- Tyson, Ann Scott. "DePaola's Wonderful World." Christian Science Monitor 26 Aug. 1997: 16. Print.
External links
- www.tomie.com Official site
- Works by or about Tomie dePaola in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- "David Wiesner and Tomie dePaola" by Stacy Patterson —with bibliography; evidently the sample course paper for INLS 890-087, A Child's Introduction to Reading, UNC School of Information and Library Science, Spring 2008
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