Tomie dePaola, author of beloved 'Strega Nona,' dies at 85
The author and illustrator was involved in more than 270 books, but his most well-known character was a kindly and helpful old witch in Italy.
Author Tomie dePaola poses with his artwork in his studio in New London, N.H. on Dec. 1, 2013. His literary agent says dePaola died Monday from surgery complications after taking a bad fall last week.Jim Cole / AP file
Today we lost the adored children’s book creator Tomie DePaola who passed away from a head injury. Forever joyful, he was a creator of beauty and a beloved friend. RIP you genius imp.
Strega Nona, his most endearing character, originated as a doodle at a dull faculty meeting at Colby Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire, where dePaola was a member of the theater department. The first tale was based on one of his favorite stories as a child, about a pot that keeps producing porridge. “Strega Nona: An Original Tale,” which came out in 1975, was a Caldecott finalist for best illustrated work. Other books in the series include “Strega Nona’s Magic Lessons” and “Strega Nona Meets Her Match.”
Reflecting on her popularity, dePaola told The Associated Press in 2013, “I think it’s because she’s like everybody’s grandmother. She’s cute, she’s not pretty, she’s kind of funny-looking, but she’s sweet, she’s understanding. And she’s a little saucy, she gets a little irritated every once in a while.”
DePaola said he put Strega Nona in Calabria, in southern Italy, because that’s where his grandparents came from.
He said over the years, the visualization of Strega Nona — who grew out of his drawing of Punch from the commedia dell’arte — became more refined. But his liberal use of color and folk art influences in her stories were a constant. After saving her village from being flooded with pasta from a magic pot by her assistant, Big Anthony, Strega Nona went on to star or play a supporting role in about a dozen more books.
“I remember laughing at the pictures of Big Anthony, the townspeople, and even cute little Strega Nona,” wrote one of his many fans in 2013, a woman who recalled her mother reading the book to her growing up. “She is ingrained in my childhood ... I hope to read Strega Nona to my kids one day.”
In 2011, dePaola received a lifetime achievement award from the American Library Association.
“Tomie dePaola is masterful at creating seemingly simple stories that have surprising depth and reflect tremendous emotional honesty,” the committee chair Megan Schliesman said at the time. “They have resonated with children for over 40 years.”
At age 4, dePaola knew he was going to be an artist and author — and he told people so. He received a lot of encouragement from his family. “They gave me half of the attic for my ‘studio.’ Now, how neat is that?” he said.
Nbcnws.com
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