Best Selling Books by Tomie Depaola

Families will treasure this story of intergenerational love and understanding as they watch young and old face challenges and learn together. Readers of all ages will love to watch Grandpa Bob teach Bobby to walk, and how Bobby returns the favor when Bob has a stroke, all in beautifully rich full color. This touching story about a young boy coping with his grandfather''s disability has long been one of Tomie dePaola''s most popular picture books. Now, for the first time, it is available in a larger format, full-color edition—perfect for family sharing.

Tomie dePaola''s classic wordless picture book is just as fun as a serving of pancakes for breakfast! Missing ingredients and mischievous pets create one humorous complication after another for a little old lady determined to make pancakes for breakfast. Fans of such favorites as Strega Nona will love Pancakes for Breakfast. “The optimistic determination of the woman and the gentle humor of the illustrations make this an appealing book for the very young.”—School Library Journal

This beautiful edition of Tomie dePaola’s progressive 1979 classic stars a special little boy who won’t give up on the dreams that make him unique. Oliver Button is a sissy. At least that’s what the other boys call him. But here’s what Oliver Button really is: a reader, and an artist, and a singer, and a dancer, and more. What will his classmates say when he steps into the spotlight?

Presenting a delightful collection of children''s favorite Mother Goose rhymes, illustrated with full-color paintings by Tomie dePaola. Young readers and their parents will enjoy meeting up with familiar friends, including Old King Cole, Little Bo-Peep, Jack and Jill, and many more in a book that is sure to be a story-hour favorite.

A perfect first Christmas book This inventive and fresh Nativity story is told from a bird''s-eye view. On the morning of the first Christmas, the birds of Bethlehem gather in the fields--not only to eat but to share the exciting news. People from all over have descended on Bethlehem and an angel has appeared in the night sky. Something extraordinary is coming! The birds agree that they must find this wondrous thing, and off they fly to the stable where a child has been born. In simple language and dazzling pictures, beloved author-illustrator Tomie dePaola shares the awe and anticipation of the first Christmas. His cast of brightly colored, curious birds will appeal to young children, making this a perfect introduction to the story of Christmas.

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

A Newbery Honor Book Tomie''s family starts building their new house at 26 Fairmount Avenue in 1938, just as a hurricane hits town, starting off a busy, crazy year. Tomie has many adventures all his own, including eating chocolate with his Nana Upstairs, only to find out--the hard way--that they have eaten chocolate laxative. He tries to skip kindergarten when he finds out he won''t learn to read until first grade. "I''ll be back next year," he says. When Tomie goes to see Snow White, he creates another sensation. Tomie dePaola''s childhood memories are hilarious, and his charming illustrations are sure to please. "A thoroughly entertaining and charming story."—School Library Journal "DePaola successfully evokes the voice of a precocious, inquisitive five-year-old everyone would want to befriend. Charming black-and-white illustrations animate the scenes and add a period flare, including a photo album-like assemblage of the characters'' portraits at the book''s start."—Publishers weekly

You see, clouds are fun, silly, and very interesting. Tomie dePaola—best-selling author of Strega Nona, Quiet, and many others—knows a lot about clouds. He also knows a lot about what people think of them. Some people see animals and pictures in clouds. The ancient Greeks believed that Hermes, the messenger of the gods, once stole the sun''s cattle, which were clouds. In this unique picture book, Tomie introduces some of the most common types of clouds, as well as the myths and legends inspired by their shapes. Simple, whimsical illustrations show the variations in shape and color that herald changes in the weather. This book will tell you many things about clouds we bet you didn''t know. Filled with his signature humor and gentle illustrations, Tomie dePaola''s approach to nonfiction is like no other. A Reading Rainbow book.

"The simple strains of this old Christmas melody are superbly reflected in the graceful, delicate, yet strong images that dePaola brings to the page....A Christmas remembrance to be long treasured." -- Booklist (starred review)"Beautiful." -- The Horn Book"Meticulous attention has been paid to every detail of design, color, and layout." -- School Library Journal

Passover is a time for families and friends to celebrate their faith and shared history. Tomie dePaola’s simple text and beautiful illustrations provide insight into this special holiday for young readers.

The third in a series of DePaola''s memoirs vividly recounts the (mostly) serene days between the end of kindergarten and beginning of first grade.

Everyone needs vacation, so Tomie dePaola''s best-selling and beloved "grandmother witch" heads to the seashore! Lately Strega Nona has been distracted. She even gave Signore Mayor the wrong remedy for his headache. Then one night Nona has a dream about her Grandma Concetta, who has been in heaven for many years, and her little house at the seashore. Nona decides that she will take a vacation there. While Strega Nona is away, Bambolona will do the daily remedies and Big Anthony will do the chores. With these two left in charge, what could possibly go wrong?

Hace mucho tiempo—a long time ago—there lived a beautiful young woman named Adelita. So begins the age-old tale of a kindhearted young woman, her jealous stepmother, two hateful stepsisters, and a young man in search of a wife. The young man, Javier, falls madly in love with beautiful Adelita, but she disappears from his fiesta at midnight, leaving him with only one clue to her hidden identity: a beautiful rebozo—shawl. With the rebozo in place of a glass slipper, this favorite fairy tale takes a delightful twist. Tomie dePaola''s exquisite paintings, filled with the folk art of Mexico, make this a Cinderella story like no other. Please note that the majority of this text is in English, with Spanish vocabulary throughout.

This beautiful new edition of Tomie dePaola’s 1978 classic retelling of a French legend stars a little juggler whose unique talent leads him to what might be a Christmas miracle. Little Giovanni is poor and homeless, but he can do something wonderful: he can juggle. The people of Sorrento marvel at his talents, and before long, he becomes famous throughout Italy for his rainbow of colored balls that delight the nobility and townspeople alike. But as the years pass, Giovanni grows old, and his talents begin to fail him. No longer a celebrated performer, he is once again poor and homeless, begging for his food. Until one Christmas Eve, when Giovanni picks up his rainbow of colored balls once more. And what happens next just might be a miracle…

Tomie dePaola has created two memorable friends in this wonderfully funny picture book. Bill, the crocodile, and Pete, his "toothbrush" bird friend, were inspired by the Egyptian plover, which does indeed act as a crocodile toothbrush. Their adventures together along the banks of the River Nile, which include Bill''s first day at crocodile school and an encounter with the Bad Guy from Cairo, are filled with the originality and offbeat humor of this favorite author-artist.

From New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Tomie dePaola comes an adorable springtime story about fifteen bunnies who are planting a garden! Spring is here! That means it’s time for the Hopkins family to plant their beautiful gardens. But when fifteen eager rabbits try to dig, rake, plant, and water at the same time, will any work get done? From award-winning author Tomie dePaola comes a charming story about what happens when you have too many bunnies, perfectly suited in a gifty board book.

When a killing drought threatens the existence of the tribe, a courageous little Comanche girl sacrifices her most beloved possession--and the Great Spirit''s answer results not only in much needed rain but a very special gift in return. "An ideal complement to Native American and Texas studies..."Booklist

Quicksand bringing you down? Kids will love this very funny science book. When Jungle Girl falls into some quicksand and starts slowly sinking, Jungle Boy arrives quickly-- and takes the opportunity to tell her how it is formed, what it is made of, and how to get out of it, demonstrating with charts and graphs. Meanwhile, Jungle Girl sinks lower... and lower... But before the book ends, the tables turn and Jungle Girl gets her revenge! This hilarious introduction to an unusual phenomenon from the bestselling author-illustrator of Quiet, Strega Nona, and many others is includes instructions for making your own quicksand-- as well as tips on how to escape if you''re as unlucky as Jungle Girl. Boldly-illustrated nonfiction with a strong sense of humor, this classic picture book is equal parts science lesson and entertainment.

Introduces the ten most common types of clouds, the myths that have been inspired by their shapes, and what they can tell about coming weather changes.