Goodbye, Mrs. Davis!

The artist Asia is in Mrs. Rosemary Davis's second grade class at Punahou School in Honolulu.

Mrs. Davis is retiring when this school year ends.

We'll miss you Mrs. D! Maybe you'll now have time to take magic lessons from Strega Nona.

MY FIRST SONGS, a Board Book

This little collection, MY FIRST SONGS, from Grosset & Dunlap features ten songs ("Rain, Rain, Go Away," "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe," "Three Blind Mice," "Hush, Little Baby," and others) excerpted from TOMIE DEPAOLA'S MOTHER GOOSE.

Wright Bear, Arthur and Tomie

A classroom of second graders, their teacher and Dr. Gloria Kirkland Holmes of the University of Northern Iowa sent Wright Bear to several authors: Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Eric Carle, Sarah Pennypacker, Marc Brown and me. Here I am with Wright Bear and Arthur.

Penguins Visit!

Left to Right:
Cecilia Yung (Art Director for G. P. Putnam's Sons and Nancy Paulsen Books), Tomie, Nancy Paulsen (Tomie's editor), Marikka Tamura (Assistant Art Director for G. P. Putnam's Sons and Nancy Paulsen Books)

Thursday, April 22, Don Weisberg (President of Penguin Young Readers Group), Jen Haller (Associate Publisher of Penguin Young Readers Group), Cecilia, Nancy and Marikka visited.

Friday, April 23, we (minus Don and Jen) went to dinner at Burdick's in Walpole, New Hampshire.

Happy May Day!

Original Art by Jan Brett

Jan Brett and her husband Joe Hearne attended Tomie's Christmas Party in 1990. She left this drawing in the Guest Book.

A little explanation...
The dog was Tomie's Welsh terrier Madison. He was a champion in Obedience competitions. Madison's trainers were at the Christmas party and they and Madison gave a demonstration of Madison's skills.

"Wow, does he have all the moves!!"

"That must be what they call star quality."

"Thanks for a wonderful party. Love, Joe + Jan"

(Click on the drawing to get a better look.)

Copyright 1990 by Jan Brett.

Manolo Blahniks Yard Sale

Tomie is "threatening" to have a yard sale this summer. Here is a photo from the yard sale on November 9, 2002. VERY "early retired" teacher Elizabeth Masucci from Boston came to the yard sale too late in the day and could only find this heart basket to buy. (If Manolo Blahniks were offered for sale, she'd make sure she was the first in line at the yard sale.)

At the yard sale in 2007, Tomie's brother-in-law David Bobbi was in charge of the "FREE" table. David was very proud at the end of the day after "selling" everything at his table.

At the 2007 yard sale, almost everything was sold seventy-five minutes into the sale, so this summer's yard sale may be scheduled from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

The Blue Bird

Tomie directed and designed "The Blue Bird" in 1976.

"The Children's Theatre Project in conjuction with the Theatre Department of Colby-Sawyer College presents THE BLUE BIRD, by Maurice Maeterlinck, in a new translation and adaptation by Tomie dePaola."

This program cover is well worn. It looks as if a cat chewed on the corners.

Illustration Copyright 1976 by Tomie dePaola.

Bread Dolls

Tomie's sister Judie sent a bread doll for Easter. It is delicious, and this is what remains.

Instructions on how to make bread dolls are on the last page of WATCH OUT FOR THE CHICKEN FEET IN YOUR SOUP, written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.

Happy Easter!

Copyright 1990 by Tomie dePaola. From the book MY FIRST EASTER, published by Grosset & Dunlap in 2008.

"Ohhh, Mommy."

It was the '60s.

Connie, co-owner of Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, New Hampshire, was getting ready to go out for the evening. She was at the top of the stairs in her home wearing a beautiful caftan (remember that it's the '60s). Her three-year-old son was climbing the stairs. When he saw his mom, he exclaimed, "Ohhh, Mommy."

When Connie was reading MY MOTHER IS SO SMART, she was reminded of that moment with her son.

"My mother is so smart, she can change into a movie star when she and my father go out at night."

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

The Gang's All Here

Left to Right, Standing: Fuffy (cousin), Franny (cousin), Judie (sister), Flossie (mother)

Wallingford Public Library, Wallingford, Connecticut, March 1993: Book signing and presentation to celebrate the publication of TOM.

The 50 Days of the Easter Season

Tomie created a sticker calendar for Liturgy Training Publications. You can count the 50 days of the Easter season, Easter Sunday until Pentecost, with "The Garden of the Good Shepherd." This may be another eBay item as the calendar was published in 2000.

Copyright 2000 by Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications.