Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola (1934–2020) was one of the most prolific and beloved American children’s book creators, an author-illustrator whose career produced over 270 books and whose visual style — bold outlines, soft colors, folk art simplicity — is recognizable to generations of readers and parents. Strega Nona (1975), his Caldecott Honor-winning retelling of an Italian folktale about a grandmother witch and her hapless assistant Big Anthony, is among the most enduring American picture books. DePaola’s work drew deeply on his Italian and Irish heritage, his Catholic faith, and his New England life, creating a body of work that is simultaneously specific and universal.

Life and Career

Thomas Anthony dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, to an Irish-American mother and an Italian-American father. He knew from childhood that he wanted to be an artist and author, and he studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, the California College of Arts and Crafts, and the Lone Mountain College in San Francisco, where he earned an MFA. He taught art and created theatrical set designs before publishing his first book, The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin (1966).

Through the late 1960s and 1970s, dePaola published steadily, developing the distinctive visual style that would define his career: flat, decorative compositions influenced by folk art, Byzantine icons, and Romanesque painting. His colors are warm, his outlines confident, and his figures — round-faced, expressive, gentle — have an iconic simplicity that makes them immediately appealing to young children.

Strega Nona (1975, Prentice-Hall) was his breakout book and remains his signature work. The story — Strega Nona (“Grandma Witch”) owns a magic pasta pot; Big Anthony uses it without permission and floods the town — is a classic cautionary tale retold with warmth and visual wit. The book was a Caldecott Honor recipient and spawned multiple sequels.

Range and Legacy

DePaola’s enormous bibliography includes folktale retellings (The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, 1988; The Legend of the Bluebonnet, 1983), religious stories (The Clown of God, 1978; Mary, the Mother of Jesus, 1995), autobiographical works (The Art Lesson, 1989; the 26 Fairmount Avenue series, 1999–2013), holiday books, and informational books. He won the Newbery Honor for 26 Fairmount Avenue (1999), an autobiographical chapter book about his childhood.

He received the Children’s Literature Legacy Award (formerly the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award) in 2011 for his cumulative contribution to children’s literature. He lived in New London, New Hampshire, where he maintained his studio until his death in 2020 at age eighty-five.

Key Works

• Strega Nona (1975)
• The Art Lesson (1989)
• 26 Fairmount Avenue (1999)
• The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (1988)

Collecting dePaola

Strega Nona first edition (Prentice-Hall, 1975) is the key collectible — fine copies bring $100–$400, signed $200–$600. The Caldecott Honor sticker appears on later printings. The Art Lesson (Putnam, 1989) and 26 Fairmount Avenue (Putnam, 1999) signed are $30–$75 each. DePaola signed extensively throughout his career at events, bookstores, and festivals; signed copies are available but some titles in first edition are scarce. His original artwork has been exhibited and is collected by institutions. The sheer volume of his output means that many titles are inexpensive, but Strega Nona and early works in first edition command strong prices.