TOMIE dePAOLA AUTHOR STUDY: RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES

Tomie dePaola, an acclaimed children’s author and illustrator, has left a lasting impact on the literary world with his enchanting stories and vibrant illustrations. An author study on Tomie dePaola offers a wealth of resources and activities to engage young readers and explore his remarkable body of work. Students can delve into dePaola’s life and background, examining his Italian-American heritage and how it influenced his storytelling. They can analyze his distinctive artistic style, characterized by warm colors and expressive characters. Reading and discussing his books, such as “Strega Nona” and “The Art Lesson,” allows students to explore themes of family, community, and creativity. Further activities can include creating their own illustrations inspired by dePaola’s art, writing stories in a similar vein, or even staging a dramatic performance based on one of his works. A Tomie dePaola author study not only promotes literary appreciation but also fosters imagination and cultural understanding among young readers.

This 30 page ELA resources and activities unit should be used as part of a Tomie dePaola Author Study.

It includes:

. his website

. a current interview

. types of books he wrote

. activities to use with his books

• Activities for each type of book is included as well as general activities geared towards his characters, writing and illustrations. Activities for partner and group work are encouraged. Included are character study worksheets, summary and reviews as well as ideas for bulletin board featuring him as an author and looking closely at his stories.