|
 |
 |
||
The Tomie dePaola eNewsletter By Bob Hechtel, with Tomie dePaola Miss Leah called Tomie Tuesday night. (Never mind that Tomie’s childhood dancing teacher is widowed, has grown children and is a few years older than Tomie. She will always be “Miss Leah.”) One of Tomie’s childhood dancing partners, Carol, aka Señorita Swing, called the next morning. I’m wondering if they’re planning a comeback as part of the nostalgia craze. You know, “Miss Leah presents Tomie and Carol as Señor and Señorita Swing!” I don’t doubt they could get bookings on the finest elementary school stages throughout the country and get reviewed by WEEKLY READER and the AARP BULLETIN. As long as the knees and hips hold out, why not? If I get wind of a tour, you’ll be the first to know. Friday, we drove to Meriden, Connecticut so that Tomie could see the submissions for the Tomie dePaola Art Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to two seniors, one from each of the Meriden high schools, who have been accepted at colleges and universities in accredited art programs. Tomie funded the scholarship many years ago as a thank you to the city of Meriden for giving him the Maloney Scholarship as a graduating high school senior. That evening we went to dinner with Tomie’s sister, Judie, and her husband, David, and a longtime dePaola family friend, Gerry. Stories were still being told as the restaurant workers were trying to close for the night. Start with some Irish, mix in some Italian, and put them around a dinner table. Let the storytelling begin… and never end! The presentation and autographing at the Meriden Public Library, organized as part of Meriden’s bicentennial celebration, were Saturday afternoon. Tomie read STAGESTRUCK and chapters from I’M STILL SCARED and CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED. As he read the part from CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED that described how his father would throw tinsel in clumps onto the Christmas tree instead of carefully placing tinsel, one by one, on the branches, two women in their 20’s seated in the row in front of me looked at each other and said, “That’s what Dad did!” We’re beginning to understand that CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED is not only about Tomie’s memories of his Christmases, but it’s also about your own memories of your own Christmases. Tom Bergeron (co-host of Dancing with the Stars) read the book as he was flying from Los Angeles to New York City after co-hosting the Daytime Emmy awards show. He wrote in his endorsement: “The greatest gift of CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED is also a bait and switch. Tomie’s artistry tricks you into believing you’re about to share just his Christmas memories. All the while he’s warmly leading you back to your own.” Mrs. Reseigh’s class at Kendrick Lakes Elementary wondered why Tomie spelled “Aunt” as “Ant” in LITTLE GRUNT AND THE BIG EGG. He spelled it that way because many people pronounce “Aunt” as “Ant.” He also spelled “Uncle” as “Unca” for the same reason. It’s simply a joke. Congratulations to Mrs. Reseigh’s class for knowing that “Ant” isn’t the correct spelling of “Aunt.” (LITTLE GRUNT AND THE BIG EGG will be back in print on June 8th after being out of print for a few years.) Until next time, best wishes, http://www.tomie.com UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST Monday, May 15 Book Signing at Tuesday, May 16 Book Signing at Wednesday, May 17 Thursday, June 8 Wednesday, June 14 – Sunday, July 2, 2006 Friday, July 28, 2006 Saturday, July 29, 2006 Thursday, September 14, 2006
|
||
| back |