'Christmas Remembered' is a holiday for dePaola

By KAREN MACPHERSON
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
It's no exaggeration: Tomie dePaola is an icon in the world of children's literature.

Since his first children's book was published in 1965, dePaola (pronounced da-POW-la) has produced more than 200 books, ranging the "Strega Nona" folktales to anthologies of Mother Goose rhymes and Bible stories to a popular series of autobiographical chapter books. dePaola's stylized artistic style, filled with simple forms and bright colors, is instantly recognizable.

So it's clear that dePaola could just keep doing what he's doing, and that would be just fine for his millions of fans. But the 72-year-old dePaola can't resist a challenge, and he has elected to try something totally different in his newest book, "Christmas Remembered" (Putnam, $19.99).

In this book, dePaola has included 15 autobiographical holiday stories. The first stories are set in his childhood, while others focus on his adult years. Unlike dePaola's other books, this one is aimed at the entire family. (In fact, in a brief note on the credits page, dePaola cautions readers that he has honestly depicted his family Christmases, including the alcohol consumption).

Because "Christmas Remembered" marks such a departure for dePaola, he decided to create artwork to match. While the illustrations reflect dePaola's trademark clean-lined shapes and vivid colors, they aren't created with the acrylic paints he's used for years. Instead these illustrations are mixed media collages that dePaola crafted using paint, pencil, paper, wood and even cloth, and then "tweaked" with a computer program.

The result is a book that will appeal to both adults and school-age children, especially those familiar with dePaola's autobiographic chapter books. Young readers probably will be most interested in the stories of the younger dePaola, such as "The Candy Cane Christmas" in which he details his work in a local candy store, including the creation of a five-foot candy cane. Adults, meanwhile, will be particularly intrigued by the stories of Christmases celebrated by the adult dePaola, including his holiday tales set in a priory, in Santa Fe, and in San Francisco.

"I had a ball with this," dePaola said.

Christmas is dePaola's favorite holiday, and he's done quite a number of Christmas books over the years. But dePaola really wanted this book to be different, especially the artwork.

"My art director didn't push me, but she gently encouraged me to try something new... . I couldn't do this different kind of writing and use my normal (artistic) style. I really like the challenge of doing something new."

Born in Meriden, Conn. to an Italian-Irish family, dePaola knew from an early age that he wanted to be an artist and to create children's books. His parents were proud of his talent and encouraged him. In "A Postwar Christmas," one of the stories in "Christmas Remembered," dePaola recounts his joy at receiving a stash of art supplies from his parents one holiday.

"I don't think it's that unusual to know early on what you want to do," dePaola said. "What is unusual is that my parents paid attention to what I said."

Before he became a full-time children's book author and illustrator, dePaola worked as a stage set designer, art teacher and muralist.

Over the years, dePaola has received many awards, including a Caldecott Honor for "Strega Nona" and a Newbery Honor for "26 Fairmont Ave."

Anita Silvey, a noted children's book expert, believes that all of dePaola's books "have been marked by his characteristic humor, genius for storytelling and absolute devotion to his audience _ children."

Asked to name his favorite of all of his books, dePaola replied: "Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs," which was originally published in 1973 and then re-released with new, full-color art a few years ago. This autobiographic tale tells of the young dePaola's enjoyment of his weekly visit with his great-grandmother, and his sadness when she died.

The book was a landmark in children's literature because it was one of the first to openly address the subject of death in a picture book for young children.

DePaola faces surgery next year for carpal tunnel syndrome _ caused by signing books _ in both hands. But he refuses to entertain the idea of retiring, and has several other books in the works, including a new volume in his series of autobiographical chapter books. dePaola also would like to write another "family" book like "Christmas Remembered," centered on "food memories."

"It's just fascinating to me that people are so interested in my life," dePaola said.

(Note: For more information about dePaola, including coloring pages, go to www.tomie.com).

(Karen MacPherson, the children's/teen librarian at the Takoma Park, Md. Library, can be reached at Kam.macpherson(at)gmail.com.)