Starstruck by you, Tomie dePaola <3

I'd like to talk about the wonderful author Tomie dePaola today. During a long and prolific career, he wrote 271 books, and so many of them are classics! Strega Nona and her sidekick Big Anthony, Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato (a favorite Saint Patrick's Day read-aloud, especially if you can manage to put on an Irish brogue). I'd always try to read Starstruck by Tomie dePaola before every musical dress rehearsal at Mann - perhaps my younger students will remember that. But my personal favorite book of Tomie's is his 1999 Newbery Honor book, 26 Fairmount Avenue. I love it because of so many connections my family and I discovered while reading it: My husband is from Fall River, as is Tomie's grandmother; his parents lived through the Big Hurricane of 1938, just like Tomie did; Tomie's family left one home for another just like my family moved so many times when I was a kid; and I love Walt Disney movies just like he did! There were so many ways that this book resonated with me and my own children. I can't remember ever having read 26 Fairmount Avenue to kids at Mann, but I recommended it all the time and hope you'll consider reading it to or with your children!

But what I most love about Tomie's books is that his characters, both kids and adults, were like real people. They weren't always well behaved, although they were usually well-meaning. They had character faults, but they usually learned from their experiences. I don't necessarily mean that they learned to BE better, but they definitely wanted to TRY to be better. The'd be lazy, or braggy, or inconsiderate, or short-tempered, or whatever, but they'd always try hard NOT to be lazy, or braggy, or inconsiderate, or short-tempered, or whatever. And they always said "sorry". I love that about Tomie's book characters, so I love that about Tomie. They say that good writers write who they know, and Tomie knew his characters.

So, Tomie, just wanted you to know I've always been Starstruck by you!

PS If you'd like to learn about his name, you can hear him tell us here: https://www.teachingbooks.net/pronounce.cgi?aid=807 He will tell you why it's spelled Tomie instead of Tommy, which I've always wondered, and what dePaola means.