Still Alive

The kindergarten book group at the Bedford Montessori School in Bedford, Massachusetts, wrote a letter to ask several questions, including this one: Are you still alive?

Tomie: Yes, I am. Thank you for asking.

Mill Brook Gallery Art Exhibition

"Tomie dePaola: Paintings, Illustrations, and Prints"
April 25 - June 23, 2013

Artist's Reception: Friday, April 26, 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden
236 Hopkinton Road
Concord, NH 03301
Open Tuesday-Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
603-226-2046

www.themillbrookgallery.com

I Saw Cyndy Kissing...

Tomie, Cyndy Szekeres Prozzo, and I recently went to Burdick's in Walpole, NH, for lunch. This winter, Tomie had found two thank-you-cards that Cyndy had sent when both of them were at Pratt Institute. Cyndy had not only written notes, but had created drawings for the cards. Tomie wanted to give the drawings back to Cyndy for her archives.

When we sat down at our table, one of two gentlemen, in suits, at the next table said hello to Tomie and re-introduced himself. We had met him when he was part of the security detail for our former governor, John Lynch. He was at the restaurant with our new governor, Maggie Hassan.

When the governor was ready to leave the restaurant, she came to our table, with Ken Burns (documentarian, part-owner of the Restaurant at Burdick Chocolates, and resident of Walpole), to say hello to Tomie.

Lots of laughs with Cyndy, and a chance to meet the new governor, in a restaurant with great waitstaff and wonderful food. A very nice Saturday indeed.

(If you google "Cyndy Szekeres," you can see jackets of many of Cyndy's books in "google images.")

A Raucous Tomie dePaola Day

Mrs. de Cristofano's first grade class at Sea Girt Elementary in Sea Girt, NJ, wrote letters.

Mrs. D wrote: The first grade class at Sea Girt Elementary School recently celebrated Tomie dePaola Day, a fabulous day filled with mindful activities which included making a Tomie dePaola mural for a hallway display, publishing our own books (using I LOVE YOU, SUN; I LOVE YOU, MOON as a launching point), and making pancakes (for snack) in the school kitchen. We read as many of your special and dear stories as possible, and the children concluded the day with games centered around the ideas and themes of your stories; this culmination of events included a pasta toss game (picture "hot potato" but with large handfuls of spaghetti!). Raucous!

Tomie: How wonderful it would have been to see photographs of the pasta toss game. Clean-up in Mrs. D's classroom! The janitors must love Mrs. D. 

Amaryllis Abundance

When no amaryllis stalks and blooms appeared this winter, I thought I had erred in the care and feeding of the bulbs. But now, there are over 50 stalks coming from the amaryllis bulbs. Tomie's house will be filled with amaryllis flowers for a few weeks.

I don't rest the amaryllis bulbs as suggested. I keep them in the sun and water them throughout the year. The bulbs decide to erupt when they want.

Making the World Smarter, One Book at a Time

Makayla is in a second grade class in Jacksonville, Florida. She wrote: You make the world SMART!

Tomie: I can't take ALL of the credit.

Happy Easter

The Study of Tomie's Brain

Ms. Logan's third grade class at Simmons Elementary in Versailles, Kentucky, did an author's brain project. Ms. Logan's class studied Tomie's brain.

Cameron explained:
First, we researched an author's life. Then we drew a brain. We divided the brain into different lobes and described what they were responsible for. Then we put two books in each lobe and compared them to your life. We learned a lot about your life. We did this because we wanted to see if you are left brained or right brained and I think you are very right brained. I found that things in your life inspire you to write your stories.

Tomie dePaola: "Then" and "Now"

Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire, is organizing two exhibitions of Tomie dePaola's artwork to celebrate his 80th birthday. (His 80th birthday is on September 15, 2014.)

Tomie dePaola: Then
Art from Junior High School through the mid-1970s.
November 7 - December 20, 2013
Opening Reception on Thursday, November 7, 2013, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Tomie dePaola: Now
Art from the mid-1970s until now.
Fall 2014

(To be clear, this is an announcement of two exhibitions.  The exhibitions and Opening Receptions are open to the public.)  

Separated at Birth?

Carlos is in the second grade in Falls Church, Virginia. He wrote, "You look like Eric Carle."

Tomie's reply? "Eric Carle looks like me."

Happy Passover

Cheery Springtime Fashion

Lilly is in Mrs. Teach's class at Pelican Marsh Elementary in Naples, Florida. She likes to paint pictures and dance with her mom.

Tomie Does Brooklyn

ILLUSTRIOUS CHILDREN'S AUTHOR TOMIE DEPAOLA TO SPEAK

Communications Design is hosting a talk by famed children's book author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, (B.F.A. '56), who has written over 200 books including the much-loved Strega Nona series.

CORRECTED START TIME AND LOCATION  

Monday, March 18, 7:30-9 PM

Higgins Hall

Brooklyn Campus

Pratt Institute