The Book Jam

As part of our mission to promote authors, the joy of reading, and to better understand the craft of writing, we’ve paired with the The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, Vermont to present an ongoing series entitled “3 Questions”.  In it, we pose three questions to authors with upcoming visits to the bookstore.  Their responses are posted on The Book Jam during the days leading up to their engagement.  Our hope is that this exchange will offer insight into their work and will encourage readers to attend these special author events and read their books.

Today’s post features the beloved Tomie dePaola, one of the most popular children’s book authors and illustrators of our time. A native of Connecticut, Mr. dePaola studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and now lives near us in New London, New Hampshire.

Mr. dePaola will visit the Norwich Bookstore from 10:30 am to noon on Saturday, November 30th for story time and to sign his latest books – Strega Nona Does It Again and Joy to the World: Tomie’s Christmas Stories.  Reservations are not required for this event.  Please call 802-649-1114 or e-mail info@norwichbookstore.com for more information or to reserve a copy of his books.

1. What three books have helped shape you into the author you are today, and why?

• The illustrations by Herman Ilfeld Bacharach in “The Children’s Hour” series of books from Riverside Press, 1930s. They were the first illustrations that I loved when I was a small child. (Unfortunately, this book is out of print, and we could not link to it.)
• Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, by Rachel Field. The idea of a 100-year-old doll writing her memoirs captured my imagination as an elementary school child.
• Anything the Provensens illustrated, especially The Animal Fair, by Ponder Goembel published by Big Golden Books. It was a favorite of the illustration majors at Pratt when I was a student there in the ‘50s.

2. What author (living or dead) would you most like to have a cup of coffee with and why?

Gertrude Stein. She was ahead of her time and probably still is. Any friend of Picasso’s and Matisse’s could be a friend of mine.

3.What books are currently on your bedside table?

Fairy Tales From the Brothers Grimm: A new English version by Philip Pullman.