Author Study

Tomie dePaolo

Early Life

• He was born and raised in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934
• He aspired to become a writer from a young age
• His mother read him books constantly during their childhood.
• He had one brother and two sisters.
• He wrote a book about his sister being born

Career and Teachings

• He studied art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn
• He taught at Newton College of the Sacred Heart.
• Also taught at San Francisco College for Women
• Recieved a masters in Fine Arts in 1969.
• Relocated to New England in the 1970s teaching art at Chamberlayne Junior College.
• He taught art at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire from 1976-1978.
• Retired from teaching in 1978 to devote his time to writing and illustrating books.

Writing

• First published book that Tomie illustrated was a 1965 volume in the Coward- McCan series. "Science is what and why"
• The first book he wrote and illustrated was the The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin.
• His writing career spanned over 50 years during which he worked on more than 270 books.

Television

• DePaolo appeared in "Barney and Friends" as himself.
• In 2017 he also appeared as himself in the Jim Henson Company series- Telling Stories with Tomie dePaolo.

Personal Life

• DePaolo was gay, but did not come out until later in life.
• He said, "If it became known you were gay, you'd have a big red "G" on your chest... an dschools would'nt buy your books anymore"

Personal Life

• DePaolo was gay, but did not come out until later in life.
• He said, "If it became known you were gay, you'd have a big red "G" on your chest... an dschools would'nt buy your books anymore"

Death

• Tomie DePaolo died at the Darmouth-Hitchock Medical Center on March 30, 2020, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
• He was badly injured in a fall in his barn studie the previous week and died of complications following surgery.

Awards and Honors

• in 2011, Depaolo recived the Biennial Children's Literature Legacy Award from the U.S. children's libarians.
• Pratt Institute honored him with an Honorary Doctorate on May 18, 2009.
• Hans Christian Andersen Award- the highest international recognition for creators of children's books.
• Golden Kite award.
• He won the 1994 Aesop Prize from the American Folklore Society.

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Award and Honors continued...

• in 1994 he won the Aesop Prize from the American Folklore Scoety
• 2000 Southwest Book Award from the Border Regional Library Assocation.
• Caldecott Honor in 1976
• Boston Globe- Horn Award
• Newbery Medal
• in 2000 he won the Jermiah Ludington Memorial Award from the Educational Paperback Assocation.

More Books...

• Hide and Seek Wll Week
• I love you son, I love you moon
• Mary Had a Little Lamb
• Charlie Needs a Cloak
• I love you, Mouse
• The Quilt Story