The Official Tomie dePaola Blog

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The ring with manger scene was created, based on Tomie's work, many years ago by Midwest of Cannon Falls. Each year, Tomie asks Mauli McDonald of Art of Nature in New London to use the ring to make a wreath for his front door.

www.natureswildart.com

Jim and Kathy of the AP

Associated Press photographer Jim Cole and AP writer Kathy McCormack's article about Tomie was published several days ago, and was circulated to news sources almost everywhere, it seemed.

Jim had been a student of Tomie's when Tomie taught at New England College in Henniker, NH, in the mid-to-late 1970s.

www.bigstory.ap.org/article/strega-nona-tomie-depaolas-stories-endure

Monday, December 16, 2013

A Visit with Andrew and J

Andrew Spahr and his daughter, Juliana, or J, recently visited Tomie. First, Tomie toured "Tomie dePaola: Then" at Colby-Sawyer College with Andrew and J. It was particularly interesting for Tomie to talk about the exhibit with Andrew and J because of their art history background. They could see the influences of Tomie's early artwork.

They next came to Tomie's studio.

Andrew Spahr is Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Currier had bought two panels of original artwork from TOMIE DEPAOLA'S MOTHER GOOSE STORY STREAMERS several months ago.

Tomie decided to give the Currier the original artwork for the remaining three sets of panels, and pocket folder jacket, so that the Currier would have all of the artwork for the STORY STREAMERS. Andrew and J came to the studio to pick up Tomie's donation of artwork.

www.currier.org

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Passings

One week ago, Don Elleman died. He was the wonderful husband of Barbara Elleman (TOMIE DEPAOLA, HIS ART & HIS STORIES), and Tomie's friend.

Nearly six months ago, Harlow Carlson died. He was the wonderful husband of retired school teacher Karen Carlson, and Tomie's friend.

Although Tomie knew of these two passings from Barbara and from Karen, Tomie is learning of the final days of others through notes sent with Christmas cards.

Christmas joy mixed with some sadness.

Happy Third Sunday of Advent

Saturday, December 14, 2013

If You Had a Magic Pot...

During Mr. Menta's library class in Milford, Connecticut, Mrs. Toole's second graders answered the question: If you had a magic pot like Strega Nona, how would you help people and why?

Some of the answers were:
If some people were blind I would try to make eye cameras and put it on their eyes. If some people did not have money I will give them golden eggs. When people are sick I will give them good treats. When people are kidnapped I will get a scary snake and scare the kidnappers. If people were hurt I would give them a first aid kit.

I would feed the poor popcorn. And I would give the poor a big pot of pasta. And I will make clouse for peopole that dont have any. I will make pizza for eveyboby.

I will give food to the uther pepel. I will give them mony for clows. I will sing them a song. I will give them ice crem. I will give them books to read.

I would giv pleop muney. Be cas peopl can get food. Food is inpornet. They need food. for they can be strong and brave.

Three Stars for Two Stars

LITTLE POEMS FOR TINY EARS, written by Star Lin Oliver, and illustrated by Star Tomie, received starred reviews from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and BOOKLIST in November.

KIRKUS has just given LITTLE POEMS FOR TINY EARS another starred review: "Oliver pens a set of poems tailor-made for tiny ears and tiny minds... Varied rhythm and rhyme schemes enrich a baby's exploration of sound at the time when his or her developing mind needs it most.... A tenderly crafted collection that captures the joyous individual moments of infant discoveries."

LITTLE POEMS FOR TINY EARS, Nancy Paulsen Books, Publication Date: February 11, 2014