Tomie (Hearts) Anemones

Tomie said that anemones were Matisse's favorite flowers. Anemones are also Tomie's favorite flowers.

For the (H)mong Community

This edition of THE KNIGHT AND THE DRAGON has Green Mong and White Hmong translations alongside the original English text. It was published exclusively by the Minnesota Humanities Commission.

BILL AND PETE on DVD

"From the award-winning creator of 'Faerie Tale Theatre,' 'Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories' bring to life a humorous collection of her favorite children's picture books!"

This videotape is probably only available through eBay and similar sources, but there is available at Amazon a "Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories" DVD that features BILL AND PETE.

Copyright 1992 by MCA Family Entertainment.

Practicing for "American Idol"

Here is Tomie at his 60th birthday, in his barn, in September 1994, amongst 400 of his closest friends. His partner at the piano was an entertainer from New York City. (Notice the kiss, outlined by red lipstick, on Tomie's cheek.)

1969 Was a Very Good Year

This page is from the portfolio book published by the Graduate Faculty of the California College of Arts and Crafts (now California College of the Arts). The book presented the 26 students who were awarded the Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degree in 1968-1969.

(I noticed an error. Tomie was born 9-15-34.)

"2. The Heart Stomper
The Heart Stomper is often found near innocence. It has long legs, big feet and a loud mouth. The stamina of the Heart Stomper is very well known."

Drawings Copyright 1969 by Tomie dePaola.

It Won't Be Long

Many years ago, we planted THOUSANDS of tulip bulbs each fall, and the tulips looked sensational when they bloomed. Here is one of the beds full of tulips.

There is now only one place on the property where tulips can be planted and not destroyed by the deer. That place is in a flower bed next to the barn greenhouse. Those tulips will bloom in May.

It's encouraging to realize that mud season won't last forever.

Happy MY MOTHER IS SO SMART Publication Day!

Illustration from MY MOTHER IS SO SMART, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons. Copyright 2010 by Tomie dePaola.

The Heart of the Whitebird

"The Heart of the Whitebird: The Art of Tomie dePaola" was an exhibition, October 17 - December 31, 1999, at the William Benton Museum of Art at the University of Connecticut.

Illustration Copyright by Tomie dePaola. Photograph Copyright by Jon Gilbert Fox.

Tikvah (the Hebrew word for hope)

"A child's first confrontation with human rights can often occur at a very early age. Maybe not human rights in the larger context that involves racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, 'my-god-is-the-right-god-yours-isn't,' or even 'manifest destiny.' Still I have a strong conviction that the attitude toward human rights that an individual carries within himself or herself is formed when very young..." Tomie dePaola

From the book TIKVAH: CHILDREN'S BOOK CREATORS REFLECT ON HUMAN RIGHTS, published by SeaStar Books. Copyright 1999 by the University of Connecticut.

Happy Spring!

Illustration from TOMIE DEPAOLA'S FRONT PORCH TALES & NORTH COUNTRY WHOPPERS, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons. Copyright 2007 by Tomie dePaola.

Saddle Up a Good Book

Tomie created the artwork for the 1995 Summer Reading Program materials for New Hampshire libraries. Here was the bookmark.

Copyright 1994 by Tomie dePaola.

Sister Angelica

Tomie created this drawing for the program cover for the Colby College - New Hampshire (now Colby-Sawyer College) production of "Sister Angelica," February 21 and 23, 1974. Tomie designed scenery and costumes for the production. Sally (Kimball) Campbell did not design the lighting for the production.

Copyright 1974 by Tomie dePaola.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Illustration from JAMIE O'ROURKE AND THE BIG POTATO, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons. Copyright 1992 by Tomie dePaola.

Tortillas, Salsa and Tomie

Tomie created artwork for interstitials for Nickelodeon TV. The artwork and story were later adapted for the Fall/Winter 2002 issue of DORA THE EXPLORER MAGAZINE.

Copyright 2002 by Whitebird, Inc.

Happy 60th Birthday, Tomie!

Left to Right:
Mary Ann Esposito (standing), Aunt Clotilda (sitting), Cousin Terry (standing), Tomie, Cousin Regine (from Paris), Giovanni, Aunt Clorinda

Here's a photograph from Tomie's 60th birthday party in September 1994.

Wintah Isn't Ovah

So far, this morning: snow, wintry mix, rain, brief power outage.

Tomie created the cover artwork for the January/February 2005 issue of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Bulletin. (The golden kite is a symbol for SCBWI.)

Illustration Copyright 2005 by Tomie dePaola.

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Tomie created the cover artwork for the March 1982 issue of AMERICAN BOOKSELLER.

Illustration Copyright 1982 by Tomie dePaola.

MY MOTHER IS SO SMART Reviewed

Here are excerpts from the Kirkus review of MY MOTHER IS SO SMART.

"In most respects, this Supermom is Everymom, and her son's awed appreciation is winning in its ingenuousness... The artist's characteristic borders give the book a cozy intimacy that allows this petite memoir to connect with its modern audience. For a holiday too often characterized by cold-hearted calculation, this sweetly honest offering hits just the right note."

G. P. Putnam's Sons, Publication Date March 23, 2010

Mickey Meets Tomie

In November of 1995, Tomie autographed at the "China Closet on Main Street" at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Tomie was on tour autographing COUNTRY ANGEL CHRISTMAS and Midwest of Cannon Falls ornaments inspired by the artwork in COUNTRY ANGEL CHRISTMAS. Mickey Mouse came to the autographing to meet Tomie.

Lunching with the First Lady and Governor

After hearing about Tomie's health issues during the last year, Dr. Susan Lynch, and her husband, Governor John Lynch, invited Tomie to lunch at the New Hampshire State House. A fifth guest, in addition to Tomie's Blog blogger, Mary Louise Hancock, was also invited.

Mary Louise Hancock has been called the "Grand Dame" of New Hampshire politics. She will be 90 in July of this year.

Lunch, yesterday, was a tray of sandwiches, salad, drinks, etc. We sat around a coffee table in the governor's office, and chatted. It could not have been more relaxed.

Although I had brought my camera, I just didn't feel there was an appropriate moment to take a photo. But, if there's a next time...

Childhood BFF

Here are Tomie and his childhood best friend, Jean Turco (Jeannie Houdlette), in October 2007. Jean and her husband, Lew, attended the Sarah Josepha Hale Award ceremony when Tomie received the prestigious award.

The Three Cousins

Young Tomie wanted to attend Pratt Institute because his twin cousins, Franny and Fuffy, graduated from Pratt Institute in 1941. Tomie did attend Pratt and graduated in 1956.

In 2004, Tomie gave Pratt money to renovate a studio space. The studio was named "The Three Cousins: Tomie dePaola, Kathryn 'Fuffy' McLaughlin Abbe and Frances 'Franny' McLaughlin-Gill."

Franny and Fuffy had extensive careers as famed photographers.

Illustrations from THE BABY SISTER, published by G. P. Putnam's Sons. Copyright 1996 by Tomie dePaola. Two illustrations in the book were used to create the one illustration of Tomie and his twin cousins.

Shake Things Up

Tomie created the art for the cover of the 1982 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. Neiman Marcus used the artwork to create a snowglobe in 2000. Tomie's snowglobe is the one on the right featuring carolers and angels. The snowglobe plays "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing."

Copyright 1982 by Tomie dePaola.

Best Friends Forever

Tomie is on the set of "Barney and Friends" in this photo from 1993. They are taping an episode featuring THE ART LESSON. Tomie is on the far left, and Barney is on the far right.

Photo Copyright 1993 by the Lyons Group. Photo by Mark Perlstein.

Down Under & Over Here

Tomie created this image for a traveling exhibition of children's book illustration from Australia and the USA. "Down Under & Over Here" traveled to exhibition sites from 1998 through 2000.

It was organized and circulated under the auspices of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, with support from the Dromkeen Children's Literature Collection in Australia, Scholastic, Inc., and Tomie's company.

Illustration Copyright 1998 by Tomie dePaola.

Read with a Child!

Tomie created this illustration for the Association of Booksellers for Children in 2004. It was used on the cover of their Best Books for Children catalog and on a poster promoting their campaign "Read with a Child! The most important 20 minutes of your day."

It's one of my (Tomie's Blog blogger's) favorite drawings. Tomie had donated the original artwork to ABC to be used for their auction at BookExpo America. I tried to buy it from ABC before it was offered at the auction, but ABC decided instead to put it in the auction.

It depicts 70-year-old Tomie reading to some of his best known characters and to children.

Illustration Copyright 2004 by Tomie dePaola.

MY FIRST BIBLE STORIES, a Board Book

Another board book in Grosset & Dunlap's Tomie dePaola/"My First" series, MY FIRST BIBLE STORIES, has been published. "God Created the World," "Noah and the Great Flood," and "David and Goliath" are featured using excerpts from TOMIE DEPAOLA'S BOOK OF BIBLE STORIES. Charming.

Will the Cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Be Next?

We were on the cover of the May/June 1994 issue of REMINISCE magazine. Left to Right: Tomie's Blog blogger, Tomie, Dick Gordon, Nancy Dutton. We were playing croquet in "costume" on the grounds of the New London Inn.

Why? We don't really remember. We think the local inns were holding a "visit the inns" weekend, and the owners of the New London Inn asked us to play croquet on the side yard.

"Hope-y, Change-y." Spring IS Coming!

Many years ago, in 1989, Tomie designed the layout (buildings and gardens) at the Dayton's Bachman's Annual Flower Show in Minneapolis. The Dayton's Bachman's show, at that time, was the largest indoor flower show in the country. Bachman's flower shops are still in business. Dayton's became Marshall Field's. Marshall Field's has become Macy's.

It's good to look forward to spring with the unrelenting winter weather.

(We lost power for fifteen hours during the heavy winds in New Hampshire Thursday night into Friday. Tomie has a generator so the power outage didn't affect him much. A couple of days earlier fourteen inches of heavy wet snow fell.)

Click on the image to get a better look.