Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose

Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life’s work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts.

This drive saw him through years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children’s book. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full-time into both writing and illustrating children’s books.

DePaola named Fra Angelico, Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many prestigious awards in his field, including:

• Caldecott Honor Award
• Smithsonian Medal
• Kerlan Award
• Regina Medal
• University of Southern Mississippi Medallion

He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.

Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children’s books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.

Tomie lived in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio was in a large, renovated 200-year-old barn.

• He had been published for over 30 years.
• Over 5 million copies of his books had sold worldwide.
• His books had been published in over 15 different countries.
• He received nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.

Tomie dePaola received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children’s book world, including:

• Caldecott Honor Award
• Newbery Honor Award
• Smithson Medal
• USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
• Regina Medal

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