Chinese New Year

© Tomie dePaola

Kathryn Abbe Obituary

www.easthamptonstar.com/Obituaries/2014123/Kathryn-Abbe-Photographer

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

© Tomie dePaola

Happy Cezanne's Birthday

© Tomie dePaola

In Memory of Kathryn McLaughlin Abbe

Left to Right:
Fuffy holding Tomie, Tomie's brother Buddy standing in front of Franny

One of my twin cousins, Kathryn McLaughlin Abbe, known in the family as Fuffy, died quietly on Saturday, January 18, 2014. She and her twin sister Franny were wonderful photographers. They graduated from Pratt in the early 1940s, and were my mentors.

They gave me the advice of a lifetime when I was just a very young artist-want-to-be: "Don't copy, and practice, practice, practice." Fuffy was also my godmother.

Franny is still living, albeit with Alzheimer's.

Sunday with the Stanleys

Top to Bottom:
Flat Stanley
Mrs. Kossing's Second Grade
West Central Elementary
Biggsville, IL

Flat Stanley
Mrs. Liddle's Second Grade
Jefferson Elementary
Louisa, VA

Flat Stanley
Mr. Speca's Second Grade
Destiny Christian School
Rochester, NY

BREAKING NEWS!

SCBWI has just announced the winner of the Tomie dePaola Award.

www.scbwi.org/winner-of-the-2014-tomie-depaola-award-is-announced/

Flat Stanley with a Rabbit and a Bear

Top to Bottom:
Moffat the Rabbit
Christy Howard
Colorado Springs, CO
www.facebook.com/pages/Moffats-Travels/263825981331

Lucky Bear
Gloria Kirkland-Holmes
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

Flat Stanley
Mrs. Shwom's class
Wicoff Elementary
Plainsboro, NJ

BIG Big Anthony

The Transitional Kindergarten Kids at Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, sent a BIG Big Anthony.

We Three Kings

Tomie moved the three kings in his creches last night closer to the mangers in anticipation of today - January 6 - Epiphany.

Not to be forgotten... Last night, and early this morning, La Befana visited homes in Italy delivering gifts.

Blessed Epiphany

© Tomie dePaola

Priceless Yard Sale Find

Rosemary and her children attended my talk at the Muskegon (Michigan) Art Museum in 1993. They saw me sketch sheep on a pad of paper. I gave the drawing to someone in the audience after the talk. Rosemary was disappointed that I hadn't given the drawing to her family.

Rosemary saw the drawing at a yard sale in 2010. The mat and frame were damaged, so she didn't buy the drawing, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. The next day she returned to the home of the yard sale and asked if the drawing had sold. It hadn't, so she bought it.

Rosemary had the sheep sketch re-matted and re-framed and hung it in her home for her family to enjoy.

Great story!

We Can Only Dream

Marianne in Grandview, Missouri, created the drawing. A day with flowers, sunshine and a clear sky would be a nice change from this winter's snow, ice and temperatures below zero.

Different Hats and Glasses Evoke Different Moods

Almost all of the hats were made by that famous Skull Cap Beanies maker Bernadine Collins.

They Like It! They REALLY Like It!!

(Apologies to Sally Field.)

The original artwork for JACK arrived in the Penguin Young Readers offices this morning. The art directors for Putnam and Nancy Paulsen Books were able to look at the artwork this afternoon. We just got done talking about what I had done with the art.

They liked the illustrations. Whew!

Nancy Paulsen will see the art on Monday. I hope Nancy Rose will also like the illustrations. Fingers crossed.

Gotta Dance!

Shayla of Garrison-Pilcher Elementary in Thomasville, Georgia, drew me as a tap dancer. I imagine she put a pen in my right hand so that I could sign autographs after I completed my difficult dance routine.

The British Came! The British Came!

Photo, Left to Right: Penny, Victoria, Tomie, Kris

Victoria lives in Guildford, Surrey, England. Her great aunt is Penny who works part-time in New London, NH. Penny and her husband Charlie gave Victoria an autographed copy of 26 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE.

Victoria sent Tomie a drawing (above), photographs and a letter in early 2011 after she read the book.

Penny arranged for Victoria, and her mother Kris, to meet Tomie when Victoria and her family visited Penny and Charlie in New Hampshire in August, 2011.

We'd forgotten to post Victoria's photograph after it was taken in August, 2011.

Happy Second Day of the New Year!

© Tomie dePaola

Mangia!

Copyright © 1974 by Tomie dePaola. From the book, WATCH OUT FOR THE CHICKEN FEET IN YOUR SOUP. Published by Simon & Schuster.

Lelah is four years old and lives in Los Angeles. She and her mother just read WATCH OUT FOR THE CHICKEN FEET IN YOUR SOUP, and wondered: What red fluffy stuff are Joey and Eugene eating after the chicken soup and before the spaghetti?

Answer: Tomato and eggplant stew