Best Selling Books by Tomie dePaola

Strega Nona is a lovable grandmotherly witch who helps all the townspeople with their problems.She hires Big Anthony to help her with chores. One day he hears her singing to the pasta pot. He however, does not see her blowing three kisses to make it stop. Her one rule is never to touch the pasta pot, but when she is away Big Anthony takes it out and sing the song to it, then invites all the townspeople to come and get pasta. The problem comes when he c\n't stop the pot. In the end, his punishment fits the crime.

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.

When Lucida is unable to finish her gift for the Baby Jesus in time for the Christmas procession, a miracle enables her to offer the beautiful flower we now call the poinsettia.

Fin M'Coul's wife, Oonagh, helps him outwit his arch rival, Cucullin.

On the morning of the first Christmas, the colorful birds of Bethlehem gather to talk about the exciting events they have witnessed, from the long line of people approaching the town to the stable where a newborn baby lies.

Presents a collection of four retold fairy tales, including "The Princess and the Pea, ""Rumpelstiltskin," "The Three Bears," and "The Elves and the Shoemaker." On board pages.

Tomie has an eventful first grade year with his sixth birthday party, his first Halloween trick-or-treating followed by Thanksgiving, his first Christmas pageant, and a late night New Year's celebration.

When William Everett Crocodile is chosen to be a suitcase, his talking toothbrush becomes his salvation.

A little old lady's attempts to have pancakes for breakfast are hindered by a scarcity of supplies and the participation of her pets.

When his grandfather suffers a stroke, Bobby teaches him to walk, just as his grandfather had once taught him.

A once-famous Italian juggler, now old and a beggar, gives one final performance before a statue of Our Lady and the Holy Child.

After helping Strega Nona plant her vegetable garden just so, Big Anthony takes some extra seeds and sows another garden willy nilly, then must find a way to deal with the consequences.

Tommy knows he wants to be an artist when he grows up. He can't wait to get to school and have real art lessons. When Tommy gets to school and finds out that the art lessons are full of "rules", he is surprised and dismayed. How the wise art teacher finds a way to give Tommy the freedom to create and stay within the "rules" makes a wonderfully perceptive picture book about growing up and keeping one's individuality.

Tomie dePaola is the author and illustrator of many beloved books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Book Strega Nona. Fans of all ages will be pleased to hear that The Art Lesson is, in fact, based on the artist's own experiences growing up, and offers a welcome glimpse into his past. This bright picture book is as covered with drawings as the walls of Tommy's parents' and grandparents' houses, and sends an inspirational message to budding artists and individualists. Break out the crayons!

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. A shepherd shears his sheep, cards and spins the wool, weaves and dyes the cloth, and sews a new red cloak.

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

Tomie dePaola's glorious paintings are as luminous as the farolitos that light up on the Plaza in Santa Fe for the procession of Las Posadas, the tradition in which Mary and Joseph go from door to door seeking shelter at the inn on Christmas Eve.This year Sister Angie, who is always in charge of the clebration, has to stay home with the flu, and Lupe and Roberto, who are to play Mary and Joseph, get caught in a snowstorm. But a man and a woman no one knows arrive in time to take their place in the procession and then mysteriously disappear at the end before they can be thanked.That night we witness a Christian miracle, for when Sister Angie goes to the cathedral and kneels before the statue of Mary and Jospeh, wet footprints from the snow lead up to the statue.

In spring, the hills and meadows of Texas and Wyoming are ablaze with the reds, oranges, and yellows of the Indian Paintbrush. How this striking plant received its name is told in an old Indian legend.

Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in which it was revealed that one day he would create a painting that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky at sunset. The boy grew up to become the painter of the tribe, but although he found a pure white buckskin for a canvas and made paints from the brightest flowers and the reddest berries, he could not capture the sunset.

How the young Indian artist finally fulfills his Dream-Vision is lovingly told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, in words and pictures that capture the spirit and beauty of this dramatic legend.

A celebrated illustrator presents his interpretation of the legend of St. Christopher, who originally had been a giant named Reprobus out to serve the world's most powerful king, a ruler he finds when he carries the young Christ across a river.

Every night a monster comes into Maggie's room. The monster crashes into the furniture with her big hairy feet, knocks books off the shelf, and sits in the chair and grumbles to herself. Maggie doesn't know what to do until her mother suggests that maybe the monster is looking for something. So Maggie asks the monster, and it turns out she's looking for her mother. Together, they carry on the search until the monster finds her mother—and Maggie finally gets a good night's sleep!

With a lighthearted spirit and a clever mystery element, Maggie and the Monster is a wonderful collaboration between two award-winning talents. Readers will be thrilled to see this charming bedtime tale back in print.

Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona has been loved by generations of children's book readers, but they've never seen her like this!

In six spreads of pop-up magnificence, paper engineered by the renowned #1 New York Times bestselling team of Sabuda and Reinhart, Strega Nona shares her words of wisdom for leading a magical life, all rendered in Tomie dePaola's classic style.

With doors to open, tabs to pull, and a host of other interactive features, readers will be drawn into Strega Nona's world in a way they've never been before. Brava, Strega Nona! is a glorious celebration of important values that will introduce a whole new generation of readers to this lovable character.

In this unique collection, Tomie dePaola shares his love of Christmas and all the delightful twists his life has taken. Christmas Remembered is a delightful window into the life of one of the great American children?s book author/ artists.

?Tomie dePaola is one of my favorite illustrators....He is also a writer of considerable charm, who can evoke a remembered world of his childhood with great vividness.??Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials Trilogy

?This book is like Christmas itself?full of surprises and sensory delights . . . for young and old alike.??Kathleen Norris, author of The Cloister Walk

The story of Patrick's life, from his noble birth in Britain, to his being captured and taken to Ireland by a group of bandits, to the "dreams" that led him to convert the Irish people to the Christian faith. DePaola also retells several well-known legends, including the story of how Patrick got rid of all the snakes in Ireland. Full color.

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Through original artwork as well as beautiful reproductions of Kahlo's paintings, the latest Smart About book explores the creative, imaginative world of Mexico's most celebrated female artist.

When King Balash's precious diamond is stolen, the grief-stricken king can no longer rule, and the country falls into chaos, until a clever young boy comes up with a scheme to bring the jewel's radiance back into the palace.