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Mrs. Sue Meier's kindergarten class at South Elementary in Ithaca, Michigan, celebrated an Old Time Christmas in their classroom. They made quilt blocks, a covered wagon, Christmas stockings and hand-dipped candles. They sent me a card, a quilt block, a stocking, two hand-dipped candles, and photographs of their projects.
Miss Rowell's second grade class at Coman Hill Elementary in Armonk, New York, asked questions after reading the "26 Fairmount Avenue" series, including the most recent, FOR THE DURATION.Class: Are you planning to write more books in the "26 Fairmount Avenue" series?Tomie: Yes. I don't know when the next book will be published. It probably will be the last in the series.Class: When are you going to write about Judie?Tomie: Soon.Class: Was Buddy ever nice to you again after the diary incident? (The children were really upset with Buddy! You can't imagine the uproar that happened when we read Chapter 13 of FOR THE DURATION!!)Tomie: No.Class: What happened to Uncle Charles? Was he safe during the war? (The children are concerned that he may have gotten hurt or died like Blackie.)Tomie: He was safe. He received a medical discharge in 1944.Class: Did you ever change your mind and write in a journal or diary again or did you decide to become a writer because you had so many stories in your head?Tomie: I never again wrote in a journal or diary. When I got much older, I became an illustrator for books. I did have a lot of stories in my head, and that helped when I started writing stories for my books.Class: How did you decorate your Christmas tree when you were a kid? Did you create ornaments?Tomie: We did not create ornaments. We had a lot of special family ornaments. My father loved icicles. You can read about that in CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED.Class: What happened to Miss Leah?Tomie: Miss Leah is alive and well, and living in Connecticut. I am in touch with her.Class: Did you get Miss Bailey for 3rd grade?Tomie: Yes, but she was my third grade teacher for only half of the year. She got married halfway through the school year, and at that time, women could not be married and teach in the state of Connecticut. So, we got a new teacher after Miss Bailey left.Miss Rowell: I just finished a week of parent/teacher conferences. Your name came up over and over again. The parents kept sharing how your stories have inspired their young children to read. I thought, "Flossie would be so proud!"Tomie: Thanks for telling me!
Tomie is featured in the Topricin Winter 2011 Newsletter.www.topricin.comIn the drop-down menu under Educational Resources, click on Newsletter.Download the Winter 2011 Newsletter. Tomie is featured on Page 3.
Kim Comai's second grade students at Russell Elementary in Smyrna, Georgia, wrote letters.Ricky: I red the book BILL AND PETE. I like the book because the man was naked at the end. Theis reminds me wen my bruthr was takeing a bath.DeAndre: I liked BILL AND PETE because Bill don't no how to spell his name. When I was 2 I don't no how to spell my.Sanai: I liked the book BILL AND PETE because Pete is a toothbrush and brieds are cool. This book reminds me of when I needed my new toothbrush.William: I liked your book BILL AND PETE. It was awesome! I liked your book because it tells the seacret of friendship!
Cydney is the artist. She is in Mrs. Rorro's second grade class at Hamilton Elementary in Glen Rock, New Jersey. Click on the drawing to get a closer look at the tap dancing troupe.Olivia: Always remember to never stop drawing and tap dancing.Tomie: Words to live by.
Dawn Bronson is a first grade teacher at Palos East Elementary in Palos Heights, Illinois: It's the beginning of a new year and my first grade class has finally decided to take down the bulletin board we created in honor of your birthday on September 15th.Tomie: Why did you take down the bulletin board?Dawn Bronson: I have round tables in my classroom with four students seated at each one. These tables have illustrations from favorite books in the center of them. The most popular table to sit at in the room is the Strega Nona table.Tomie: It's a month of awards! First, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. Now, the Most Popular Table Award. I'm humbled.
Gerry Putnam of CedarHouse Sound and Mastering, near New London, recorded Tomie reading STREGA NONA yesterday. The recording will be used for a new CD and book package from Simon & Schuster.www.cedarhousesound.com
Juan is the artist. He is in Peggy McFadden's third grade class at Hancock Elementary in Houston.
LET THE WHOLE EARTH SING PRAISE is available for sale today!KIRKUS Starred Review:"DePaola takes two pieces of the Old Testament (the Benedicite and Psalm 148) and transmutes them into a simple song for all Creation... Each double-page spread calls on the world to bless and praise God... The images of birds, fish, animals, flowering plants and so on are in the most elemental of shapes... The people are representative of all, with green, blue and purple faces... Every page is infused with joy and color, and sweet touches..."LET THE WHOLE EARTH SING PRAISE, G. P. Putnam's Sons.
Tomie told the Marklin family last night that he had dedicated his newest book, LET THE WHOLE EARTH SING PRAISE, to them. He gave the Marklins an Advance Copy.Left to Right: Martin (aka Skip), Judith (the athlete), Matthias (the techno wiz), Tomie (the Wilder Award winner), Simeon (the financial prodigy), Anna (holding book, aka the restaurateur), Christine (aka Mrs. Skip). Bronte (the dog) is in the foreground trying to get attention.Later in the evening, the Marklins shared an iPad slideshow of their recent trip to Israel and Egypt.LET THE WHOLE EARTH SING PRAISE, G. P. Putnam's Sons. Publication date: Thursday, January 20, 2011.
Tomie's former editor, Margaret Frith, sent Tomie a congratulatory note regarding the Wilder Award, and mentioned that Tomie was the 18th recipient, and the 7th author/illustrator.1954 Laura Ingalls Wilder1960 Clara Ingram Judson1965 Ruth Sawyer1970 E.B. White1975 Beverly Cleary1980 Theodor S. Geisel1983 Maurice Sendak1986 Jean Fritz1989 Elizabeth George Speare1992 Marcia Brown1995 Virginia Hamilton1998 Russell Freedman2001 Milton Meltzer2003 Eric Carle2005 Laurence Yep2007 James Marshall2009 Ashley Bryan2011 Tomie dePaola
For the last four annual holiday parties, Christine and Martin Marklin have given Tomie's guests a Tomie-designed/Marklin-Candle ornament. The ornament for the party this past Sunday was a snowflake.Click on the photo to get a better look.www.marklincandle.com
As we watch the snow fall from inside the barn, I discovered an article about the ALA Youth Media Awards at SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL online."The beloved Tomie dePaola is winner of this year's 2011 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award..."'Tomie dePaola is masterful at creating seemingly simple stories that have surprising depth and reflect tremendous emotional honesty,' says Wilder Award Committee Chair Megan Schliesman. 'They have resonated with children for over 40 years.'"Our snowfall is expected to be at least a foot. We took my four-wheel-drive truck this morning to the hospital for Tomie's weekly anemia check-up. The snow is blowing a lot so even the dog doesn't want to spend much time outside.But, it's OK, for us, that winter has arrived. Travel for Christmas, New Year's and the Governor's Inauguration is over, as is Tomie's annual holiday party.
...the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award which honors an author or illustrator whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.This year's recipient is Tomie dePaola.Tomie dePaola's books range from autobiographical stories to retellings of folktales and legends, to original tales and stories. His works reflect an innate understanding of childhood, a distinctive visual style, and a remarkable ability to adapt his voice to perfectly suit the stories. With books that are often humorous - sometimes quietly, sometimes outrageously - and almost always contain a strong, emotional core, dePaola has made a contribution to children's literature that is broad, deep and lasting.
The American Library Association has just announced at its Midwinter Meeting in San Diego that Tomie is the 2011 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner.The award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.Tomie teared up when he received the phone call. He still tears up when talking about it. He's very excited.
The winner is Jennette! This is the same fruitcake recipe as the one she used for the fruitcake that won last year. The judges said, "Moist. Most like 'true' fruitcake."Stephanie came in second. The judges said, "Most colorful - prettiest."A NEW RULE. Only ONE fruitcake entry per person.(Apologies to Jennette for the misspelling of her name on the card attached to the plate.)
According to the early news on WMUR-TV, the ABC affiliate in Manchester, NH, WMUR will be broadcasting the Inauguration of John Lynch, Governor of New Hampshire, at noon today. The live broadcast will also be available on their website.Tomie is expected to speak for five minutes at approximately 12:48 p.m.www.wmur.com
You can see and hear STREGA NONA, read by Tomie, online during the month of January, 2011, at barnesandnoble.com.www.bn.com/storytime
Sally Phennicie (left) and Holly Walker (right) are getting ready to taste the four different fruitcakes. They have water to cleanse their palates. They have pens and paper to take copious notes.Sally LOVES fruitcake. Holly does not.Sally is a former banker. Holly co-owns Compass Travel and is Tomie's travel agent.They are uniquely qualified to be the 2010 Fruitcake Challenge judges.Sadly, American Anne's fruitcake came in fourth position. It was declared "not a 'real' fruitcake."Canadian Jennette's alternate entry came in third place. "Dense and dark - overcooked."More information to come regarding a winner.Click on the photo to get a better view of Tomie's kitchen.www.compasstravel.net
Left to Right: Tomie, Moffat, Mary JoMary Jo is a former student of Tomie's. She visits on December 31st every year.Moffat is a bunny. Moffat is visiting from Christy Howard's kindergarten class at Taylor Elementary in Colorado Springs, Colorado.Moffat had a great time celebrating the old year and the New Year. She's wearing a "Happy New Year" tiara.
