The Legend of the Bluebonnet

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 lifeP#39;s work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts Pamp; Crafts in Oakland, California.Plt;pPgt;It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first childrenP#39;s book, Plt;iPgt;SoundPlt;/iPgt;, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating childrenP#39;s books.Plt;pPgt;He names Fra Angelico and 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 of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Plt;iPgt;Strega NonaPlt;/iPgt;, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his Pquot;singular attainment in childrenP#39;s literature,Pquot; the Catholic Library AssociationP#39;s Regina Medal for his Pquot;continued distinguished contribution,Pquot; and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.Plt;pPgt;Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 childrenP#39;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.Plt;pPgt;Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.Plt;pPgt;- He has been published for over 30 years.Plt;brPgt;- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.Plt;brPgt;- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.Plt;brPgt;- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.Plt;pPgt;Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition forhis books in the childrenP#39;s book world, including:Plt;pPgt;- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library AssociationPlt;brPgt;- Newbery Honor Award from American Library AssociationPlt;brPgt;- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian InstitutionPlt;brPgt;- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen MedalPlt;brPgt;- Regina Medal from Catholic Library AssociationPlt;pPgt;copyright P#169; 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;Plt;/pPgt;

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