Five Questions for Tomie dePaola

At last! I have loved Tomie‘s books since being a children’s librarian (even thirty years ago, he seemed to have picture books about everything), and we’ve worked together on some articles and two Horn Book covers, but we had never met. He looks like he drew himself. And a man of firm opinions: his favorite own book? Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs. Favorite fellow Wilder winner? Ashley Bryan. Digital future? Picture books will never go away. And–in another self-interested question–he said he’d love to illustrate a book of opera plots, and with his editor Nancy Paulsen sitting in the front row, I told him I wanted to write it. Tomie’s old friend Barbara Elleman introduces him here.

Great to finally meet you, Tomie!