Strega Nona<\/em><\/a> is dePaola\u2019s most popular folktale; in fact, it\u2019s picture book canon for most children. DePaola says he is drawn to folktales because they are about people. He likes that they teach a life lesson and that the characters succeed by hard work.<\/p>\nYou\u2019ll also notice that dePaola\u2019s work is influenced by his spiritual values. Many of his books retell Christian stories or are about Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.<\/p>\n
Of course, you can\u2019t talk about dePaola without mentioning his incredible artwork. His distinctive, colorful illustrations reflect a folk-art influence with bold lines, strong shapes, and evocative simplicity.<\/p>\n
Here are just some of our favorite Tomie dePaola stories.<\/p>\n
yes no Folktale Stories 9780698118935 Big Anthony<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/353865\/big-anthony-by-tomie-depaola\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
Who doesn\u2019t adore Strega Nona\u2019s lovable helper, Big Anthony? Now you can read about his life as a young boy. Big Anthony\u2019s absentmindedness makes for many hilarious adventures including the time when he mistakenly \u201cfixed\u201d the Leaning Tower of Pisa.<\/p>\n
9780698113596 The Legend of the Bluebonnet<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/355100\/legend-of-the-bluebonnet-by-tomie-depaola\/ retold by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
During a terrible drought, the Comanche people pray to the Great Spirits for rain. The Spirits tell the people that because of their selfishness, they must sacrifice their most precious possession. A little girl named She-Who-Is-Alone knows it\u2019s her beloved doll, so she burns it willingly to help her tribe. The ashes from her doll become the bluebonnet flowers that reappear every spring. <\/p>\n
9780698116030 Jamie O\u2019Rourke and the Big Potato<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/354993\/jamie-orourke-and-the-big-potato-by-tomie-depaola\/9780698116030\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
Resigned to starve since his wife can no longer work, lazy Jamie O\u2019Rourke happens upon a leprechaun. The leprechaun convinces Jamie not to wish for gold but for the world\u2019s biggest potato instead. He does. The potato grows so big and causes so much trouble for the village, the villagers agree to provide Jamie with food for the rest of his life if only he doesn\u2019t grow any more gigantic potatoes. <\/p>\n
yes no Autobiographical Stories 9780698118645 26 Fairmount Avenue<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/351865\/26-fairmount-avenue-by-tomie-depaola\/9780698118645\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
Awarded a Newbery Honor, this chapter book tells about dePaola\u2019s life in 1938 at age five. He\u2019s a precocious, charming little boy with many humorous adventures including his disappointment when he finds out he won\u2019t learn to read in kindergarten and his reaction to the \u201cSnow White\u201d movie.<\/p>\n
9780698118362 Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/355274\/nana-upstairs-nana-downstairs-gb-by-tomie-depaola\/9780698118362\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
Little Tommy loves to visit his grandma and great-grandma on Sundays. One day, his great-grandma, Nana Upstairs, is gone. Tommy learns that as sad as it is to say goodbye when someone dies, he will carry the memories of her forever. <\/p>\n
9780698115729 The Art Lesson<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/317970\/the-art-lesson-by-tomie-depaola\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
Tommy\u2019s favorite thing is art. He draws constantly. His cousins tell him never to copy but to practice, practice, practice. When Tommy starts school, he\u2019s upset because his art teacher wants Tommy to copy her drawings. Fortunately, his teacher figures out how to give Tommy more creative freedom within the structure of her rules.<\/p>\n
yes no Christmas and Religious Stories 9780698115675 The Legend of the Poinsettia<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/313781\/the-legend-of-the-poinsettia-by-tomie-depaola\/ retold by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
In this traditional Mexican folktale, Lucinda\u2019s mother is too sick to finish the woven blanket for Baby Jesus. When Lucinda tries to finish the blanket, she tangles the yarn so much the blanket is ruined. An old woman tells Lucinda that any gift Lucinda gives will be beautiful to Jesus. So, Lucinda brings Baby Jesus weeds. The weeds transform into beautiful red flowers, the first poinsettias, representing the beauty of gifts given from the heart.<\/p>\n
9780698119017 The Night of Las Posadas<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/355386\/the-night-of-las-posadas-by-tomie-depaola\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the village is celebrating Las Posadas<\/i>, the journey of Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve, with a procession. Unfortunately, the organizer, Sister Angie, gets the flu and Lupe and Roberto, who are playing Mary and Joseph, get stuck in a snowstorm. In a Christmas miracle, a man and woman arrive to take the place of Lupe and Roberto so the pageant can go on. <\/p>\n
9780823410774 Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland<\/i> http:\/\/www.holidayhouse.com\/title_display.php?ISBN=9780823410774 by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
Patrick is kidnapped from his home and taken to Ireland where he\u2019s forced to work as a shepherd. Eventually, he escapes back to Britain only to receive a vision from God to return to Ireland and spread the Christian faith. The book ends with popular legends about St. Patrick including the stories of the shamrock and the snakes.<\/p>\n
yes no Just for Fun Stories 9780399207075 The Knight and the Dragon<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/355380\/the-knight-and-the-dragon-by-tomie-depaola\/ by Tomie dePaola <\/p>\n
The illustrations tell much of this story of a knight, who has never met a dragon, preparing to battle a dragon, and a dragon, who has never met a knight, preparing to battle a knight. (Luckily there\u2019s a librarian princess who helps them find books on the subject.) When the two finally meet, their fight is a disaster. Instead of fighting, the two become friends and start a BBQ business together. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tomie dePaola is one of the world\u2019s most beloved children\u2019s authors and illustrators with over 260 books to his name. These are some of his very best.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":10987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[59,83,266,659,954,1055],"coauthors":[13],"class_list":["post-10968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-picture-books","tag-classic-characters","tag-illustration","tag-religion","tag-educators","tag-folktales","ages_stages-pre-k","ages_stages-growing-reader"],"yoast_head":"\n
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