Tomie dePaolo (1934 – 2020)

Beloved children’s author and illustrator Tomie dePaolo led a quite and dignified life as a gay man, who came out later in his life, knowing the fact that he was gay and a children’s author might have ended his career. Born in Meriden, Connecticut, dePaolo won numerous awards for more than 270 books that are grounded in community life and resistance.  After graduating from Pratt Institute, he spent time in a monastery and then turned to mural painting, designing greeting cards, teaching and illustrating the works of others before his first book, The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin in 1966. Strega Nona is his most cherished picture book with its timeless lessons about greed, respect for authority and compassion. Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, Strega Nona has been banned by some libraries for its depiction of magic and witchcraft. However, dePaolo’s prolific storytelling and whimsical art is widely acclaimed for its gentle portrayal of diverse families and non-traditional characters that emphasize the power of love and understanding. Nearly 25 million copies of his works have been sold.