Strega Nona: An Original Version of an Old Tale (Classic board books) [Board book]

TomiedePaolaBestknownforhisaward-winningpicturebookStregaNonaandforthe26FairmountAvenueseriesofchapterbooks,TomiedePaolaisoneofthemostprolific--andbeloved--author/illustratorsinthefieldofchildren'sliterature.BiographyBornin1934intoalargeextendedIrish/Italianfamily,TomiedePaolareceivedhisarteducationatBrooklyn'sPrattInstituteandtheCaliforniaCollegeofArts&Crafts.Althoughhealwayswantedtocreatechildren'sbooks,hespentseveralyearsapplyinghistalentstothefieldsofeducation,theater,andgraphicdesign.Inthemid-1960s,hereceivedhisfirstcommissiontoillustrateachildren'ssciencebook.Ayearlater,hepublishedhisfirstoriginalpicturebook,TheWonderfulDragonofTimlin.Today,heisoneofthemostprolific--andbeloved--author/illustratorsinchildren'sliterature.Inadditiontoillustratingstoriesbyotherwriters,DePaolahascreatedartworkforcollectionsofpoetry,nurseryrhymes,holidaytraditions,andfolkandreligioustales.But,heismostfamousforbooksofhisowncreation,especiallyStregaNona("GrandmaWitch"),thebelovedstoryofanoldwomanwhouseshermagicalpowerstohelpthepeopleofhersmallItalianvillage.Writtenin1975,thisCaldecottHonorwinnerisstilldelightingchildrentoday.DePaolaadmitsthattherearestrongautobiographicalelementsinmanyofhisbooks(NanaUpstairs&NanaDownstairs,TheArtLesson,Stagestruck),butnowhereisthismoreevidentthanin26FairmountAvenue,aseriesofcharmingchapterbooksbasedonhisConnecticutchildhood.Takingitsnamefromtheaddressofhisfamilyhome,theseriescapturestheexperiencesandemotionsofayoungboygrowingupinthelate1930sandearly'40sintheshadowofWorldWarII.Thefirstbookintheseriesreceiveda1999NewberyHonorAward.DePaolaandhisworkhavebeenrecognizedwithmanyhonors,includingtheSmithsonianMedal,theKerlanAwardfor"singularattainmentinchildren'sliterature,"theCatholicLibraryAssociation'sReginaMedal,andseveralawardsfromtheSocietyofChildren'sBookWritersandIllustrators.In1999,theNewHampshireStateCouncilontheArtsbestowedondePaolatheLotteJacobiLivingTreasureAwardforthebodyofhiswork.GoodToKnowTomiedePaola'snameispronouncedTommydePOW-la.Betweencollegeandgraduateschool,dePaolaspentashorttimeinaBenedictinemonasterybeforedeterminingthatreligiouslifewasnotforhim.Usingacombinationofwatercolor,tempera,andacrylic,dePaola'sartisticstyleisbestdescribedasfolk-traditional.DePaola'sfavoritepaintersandstrongestartisticinfluencesareMatisse,Giotto,andBenShahn.Hometown:ConnecticutandNewHampshireDateofBirth:九月15,1935PlaceofBirth:Meriden,CTWebsite:http://www.tomie.com/main.html