Rachel’s Reads

A Tribute to Tomie dePaola

by Rachel Levine

On March 30, 2020, Tomie dePaola passed away. During a 40-year career, Tomie wrote and illustrated over 260 children’s books. His books included elegant retellings of legends, magical new folktales born from his imagination, ancient spiritual tales, engaging nonfiction, and intimate autobiographical stories. The breadth of his work is impressive, and the emotional impact of his work is unquantifiable. Tomie’s death has left me and his other readers gutted because, through his books, we have come to know him personally.

Tomie’s heart shines through his stories. In them, readers find kindness, humor, a love of all that is beautiful, and a little bit of mischievousness. In his autobiographical stories, we got to know his Nana Upstairs, his Nana Downstairs, and his beloved grandpa whom he called Tom. We shared his joy of music and dancing and attended his first dance recital. We waited with Tomie to meet his new baby sister Maureen when she came home from the hospital with a red bow in her hair. It has been a privilege to get to know Tomie dePaola through his work, and a wonderful way to celebrate his life is to read his stories. He spent his life making the world more beautiful, and I trust he’ll make your family’s life a little more beautiful, too. Here are just a few of my favorites!

Strega Nona, the magical wise woman of Calabria, Italy, is an icon of childhood. Come and enjoy Strega Nona’s sweet, magical adventures with her clumsy assistant Big Anthony, who is always making mistakes and getting into mischief. Strega Nona takes care of the medical needs of the people in Calabria (in addition to making a few love potions), but one day she has to leave Big Anthony in charge. How much trouble do you think Big Anthony can get into in one afternoon? After enjoying this wonderful tale, make sure to check out Strega Nona’s five sequels!

Now One Foot, Now the Other

Bobby and his grandpa Bob are best friends. Bobby loves it when Bob tells him stories, and his favorite is when Bob recounts how he taught Bobby to walk, saying, “Now one foot, now the other.” One day, Bob has a stroke and loses the ability to communicate. Bobby is scared. He doesn’t understand why his grandpa can’t talk to him. After some time, Bobby starts to try to engage his grandfather. With first one step, and then another, Bob and Bobby find a way forward together. Now One Foot, Now the Other helps families talk about the illness of loved ones and honors the deep bond between grandparents and grandchildren. This beautiful book should not be missed.

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs

In Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs, Tomie dePaola once again tackles a painful topic with beauty and love. Based on the true story of Tomie’s relationship with his grandma and great-grandma, we see the sweet, loving relationship Tomie had with both his grandmas, how he experienced their loss, and then continued to remember them. It is a profound story of love and grief that both parents and children who have lost a loved one will relate to and treasure.

26 Fairmount Avenue

26 Fairmount Avenue is the true story of Tomie dePaola’s adventures when he was four and five years old. And what an exciting time that was! In 1938, his family lived through a hurricane, saw Disney’s Snow White in the movie theater, built a house at 26 Fairmount Avenue, and Tomie began kindergarten. Tomie perfectly captures the ups and downs of being a kid with humor and sensitivity, while introducing the reader to life in the 1930s. This is my favorite first chapter book of all time, and seeing as it won the Newberry Honor Award, I must not be alone! If your family loves it too, you can go on to read the rest of the eight-book series!

Oliver Button is a Sissy

Oliver Button is a Sissy is an inspiring story about being true to yourself, even when facing bullying. Written in 1979, it is based on Tomie dePaola’s own experiences of being mistreated by his peers for being a “sissy.” Oliver Button doesn’t fit boy stereotypes. He would rather dance than play baseball, draw than play football, and play dress-up than basketball. Other boys in his school turn on Oliver because of his love of the arts. Oliver joins a dance studio despite the mean words, and there he finds pure joy. This powerful book can help open up discussions with your family on gender stereotyping, bullying, and keeping your light shining bright in the face of adversity.