Books at Pluit Village Junior Library

A Newbery Honor Book Tomie's family starts building their new house at 26 Fairmount Avenue in 1938, just as a hurricane hits town, starting off a busy, crazy year. Tomie has many adventures all his own, including eating chocolate with his Nana Upstairs, only to find out--the hard way--that they have eaten chocolate laxative. He tries to skip kindergarten when he finds out he won't learn to read until first grade. "I'll be back next year," he says. When Tomie goes to see Snow White, he creates another sensation. Tomie dePaola's childhood memories are hilarious, and his charming illustrations are sure to please. "A thoroughly entertaining and charming story."--School Library Journal "DePaola successfully evokes the voice of a precocious, inquisitive five-year-old everyone would want to befriend. Charming black-and-white illustrations animate the scenes and add a period flare, including a photo album-like assemblage of the characters' portraits at the book's start."--Publishers weekly 

Poor Adelita! Night and day she slaves in the kitchen, and still her stepmother forbids her to attend Javier's party. But with the help of the old servant Esperanza, she disguises herself in a beautiful rebozo, or shawl, and wins Javier's heart. The next day Javier spies the rebozo in Adelita's window, and soon they live muy felices por siempre-happily ever after! Based on Cinderella, Adelita is a wonderfully original story with a spicy Mexican flavor. Incorporating simple Spanish words against a stunning backdrop of Mexican colors and designs, Tomie dePaola has created an instant classic that will delight his many fans.

Tommy knows he wants to be an artist when he grows up. He can't wait to get to school and have real art lessons. When Tommy gets to school and finds out that the art lessons are full of "rules", he is surprised and dismayed. How the wise art teacher finds a way to give Tommy the freedom to create and stay within the "rules" makes a wonderfully perceptive picture book about growing up and keeping one's individuality. Tomie dePaola is the author and illustrator of many beloved books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Book Strega Nona. Fans of all ages will be pleased to hear that The Art Lesson is, in fact, based on the artist's own experiences growing up, and offers a welcome glimpse into his past. This bright picture book is as covered with drawings as the walls of Tommy's parents' and grandparents' houses, and sends an inspirational message to budding artists and individualists. Break out the crayons!

Tommy's so excited that his mom is having a baby, and he asks her for a baby sister with a red ribbon in her hair. But he didn't ask for stern Nana Fall-River to come while his mom is in the hospital. Tommy and Nana don't get along very well, but when little Maureen is born, all the trouble is forgotten.

Fans of Tomie dePaola's kindly Strega Nona will love this charming look at the early days of her good-hearted but clumsy helper Big Anthony. From the day he is born, Big Anthony never pays attention. As a boy, he leaves the gates of the farm open and all the animals escape. As a young man off to make his fortune in the world, he accidentally "fixes" the leaning Tower of Pisa. Will Italy survive the hilarious mishaps of Big Anthony? "Readers of all ages can be grateful that dePaola continues to practice his magic so well." --The New York Times Book Review "Big Anthony and Strega Nona certainly qualify as celebrities in the realm of picture books, and this latest installment will bring smiles to the faces of their young fans." --School Library Journal

In this sequel to Caldecott Honor winnerStrega Nona, “Big Anthony romps through a case of spring fever with an ill-gotten magic ring, against the architectural background and blue skies of la bella Italia.”--Booklist

Tomie keeps hearing the phrase, ?For the duration.' Gas is being rationed ?for the duration.' The Fourth of July fireworks will be the last show ?for the duration.' So many things will be different as long as the war goes on, but much of Tomie's life goes on as usual. He's excited about starring in a dance recital, taking the bus around town all by himself, and having his first Communion. But Tomie is also still getting over his cousin's death in the war, and he has to say good-bye to his uncle as he ships off to basic training. And then he has a run-in with some bullies and his brother doesn't even help him out. Luckily, Tomie knows there are a lot of people he can count on for the duration.

The sequel to "26 Fairmount Avenue", the 2000 Newbery Honor winner", Here We All Are" has Tomie, his 9-year-old brother, Buddy, and Mom and Dad settling into the new house on Fairmount as Tomie continues kindergarten with Miss Immick. Illustrations.

First-grader tomie depaola experiences uncertainty in the weeks following the attack on pearl Harbor, December 7, 19 1. what are the grown-ups talking quietly about at home and even at school? why does his class have to go to the spooky furnace room for an air raid drill? why does the family hang thick black curtains over the windows? tomie's mother is there to comfort and explain the confusion, and tomie feels better. but he's still scared.

This is a delightful reading of the favorite Italian Christmas story about an eccentric old woman and her never-ending search for the Baby King.

In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuenao flower of the Holy Night. At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the quite exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside. This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child. Beloved Newbery honor-winning author and Caldecott honor-winning illustrator Tomie dePaola has embraced the legend using his own special feeling for Christmas. His glorious paintings capture not only the brilliant colors of Mexico and its art, but also the excitement of the children preparing for Christmas and the hope of Lucida, who comes to see what makes a gift truly beautiful.

Strega Nona returns with her bumbling assistant, Big Anthony, and Bambolona, the baker’s daughter, in time for the big Christmas Eve feast.

Tommy is four years old, and he loves visiting the home of his grandmother, Nana Downstairs, and his great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs. But one day Tommy's mother tells him Nana Upstairs won't be there anymore, and Tommy must struggle with saying good-bye to someone he loves. Updated with new, full-color illustrations, this classic story will continue to win the hearts of readers of all ages."Children will want to hear this again and again." --School Library Journal, starred review"A quietly touching story Athat? depicts loving family relationships." --Publishers Weekly

Tomie dePaola's glorious paintings are as luminous as the farolitos that light up on the Plaza in Santa Fe for the procession of Las Posadas, the tradition in which Mary and Joseph go from door to door seeking shelter at the inn on Christmas Eve.This year Sister Angie, who is always in charge of the clebration, has to stay home with the flu, and Lupe and Roberto, who are to play Mary and Joseph, get caught in a snowstorm. But a man and a woman no one knows arrive in time to take their place in the procession and then mysteriously disappear at the end before they can be thanked.That night we witness a Christian miracle, for when Sister Angie goes to the cathedral and kneels before the statue of Mary and Jospeh, wet footprints from the snow lead up to the statue.

Tomie is overjoyed because his baby sister, Maureen, is finally strong enough to come home from the hospital. Over the next months, he is in a dance recital and he gets to go to the World's Fair. Soon, the school year is at an end. Summer is full of fun things to do, like going to the beach and celebrating the Fourth of July-but Tomie can't wait for school to start again. He hopes he'll get Miss Kiniry, the first-grade teacher he likes the best. In first grade he will finally-finally-learn to read. And maybe even get a library card of his own! "DePaola's writing and recollective skills are so fresh that kids will feel like he's sitting right next to them, telling his tales in and out of school with disarming charisma and not a hint of nostalgia." (The Horn Book) "More please." (Kirkus Reviews, pointer review)

Tommy is so excited. His first-grade class is putting on a play about Peter Rabbit, and he's sure to get the starring role. But in his enthusiasm, Tommy talks too much in class, so his teacher decides that he should play Mopsy instead-and Mopsy doesn't have any lines! Tommy is disappointed until he gets an idea. If he can't be the star, he can still get the audience's attention by reacting to everything Peter Rabbit does. But how will Tommy's mother and teacher react to his performance?

A book and CD edition of Tomie dePaola's classic bestseller, Strega Nona. Strega Nona -- "Grandma Witch" -- is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results. This package includes a paperback book and a CD of Tomie dePaola retelling his classic story against a charming musical score.

A charming celebration of autumn's bounty by perennial favorite Tomie dePaola Tomie dePaola's beloved Strega Nona is back in a colorful picture book, perfect for fall and the changing seasons. With beautiful illustrations reminiscent of the artwork that won Tomie dePaola the Caldecott Honor for the original Strega Nona, this celebration of harvest and gardening will make the perfect addition to any Strega Nona collection.

The popular Big Anthony tries once again to use Strega Nona’s magic with the usual hilarious and disastrous results. “Played for laughs-successfully.”--Booklist

Tomie dePaola serves as "biographer" to his delightful Italian sorceress, Strega Nona, in this beautifully drawn prequel. The tale begins with little Nona's birth on a dark and stormy night, and ends where the original Strega Nona picks up-with Strega Nona taking on the bumbling, knock-kneed Big Anthony as an apprentice. This winsome story is illustrated throughout with Tomie dePaola's warm and sunny watercolors! "dePaola does a splendid job of working this sparkling tale into the Strega Nona canon." -Publishers Weekly

Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) has cures for warts and headaches, even lovesickness. She uses old-fashioned potions and magic and the villagers in Calabria flock to her door. But when her friend Strega Amelia comes over the mountain for a visit, she brings more than just gossip. Soon she's set up her own shop, using the latest modern gadgets, offering sweets and cappuccino--to all of Strega Nona's regulars! Looks like Strega Nona's met her match, Unless she's got her own cure. For Strega Amelia! Everyone who's read about Strega Nona before will know she has a helper named Big Anthony and rememeber the big problems he's caused in the past. But this time, he unwittingly plays a part in proving that the old ways are often the best ways.

Lately Strega Nona has been distracted-she even gave Signore Mayor the wrong remedy for his headache. One night Nona has a dream about her Grandma Concetta, who has been in heaven for many years, and her little house at the seashore. Nona decides that she will take a vacation there. While Strega Nona is away, Bambolona will do the daily remedies and Big Anthony will do the chores. With these two left in charge, what could possibly go wrong?

Tomie has his own diary with a lock and a key&150now he can write down all his secrets and no one will be able to read them. All through the year, exciting things happen and Tomie writes about them in his diary. Sledding down the steep hill on his new Junior Flexible Flyer, being a pirate in the dance recital, and starting second grade with real art lessons at last! Then one Sunday morning Tomie's family hears news on the radio that changes everything. Master storyteller Tomie dePaola takes us back to 1941 and lets us experience what life was like growing up in the dePaola household.

de Paola has used his own childhood memories to create a slice-of-family-life picture book. The simple, plain text tells of the close relationship between Tommy and his namesake grandfather, Tom.

Tony dreams that one day he'll become the most famous baker in northern Italy. His poor daughter Serafina wants to be allowed to marry. Each of their dreams seems far away until Angelo, a rich young nobleman from Milan, appears and devises a way to make everyone's dreams come true

The year 1940 is a very big year for Tomie-it's the start of first grade, and it's his first birthday in the new house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. It's also the first year that Tomie gets to go trick-or-treating with his older brother, Buddy. Then the holidays arrive, and Tomie has a part in the Christmas play. This Christmas is going to be great! But disaster strikes when Tomie gets the chicken pox. Will he be cured in time for the Christmas pageant? Join Tomie dePaola once again as he takes us back to his childhood and allows us to share the holiday season with his family and friends.

The latest addition to the Newbery Honour award-winning 26 Fairmount Avenue series. World War II is raging in Europe, and Tomie finds that life has changed in many ways. Now he has to wear an extra sweater to school because they're trying to conserve coal. Then tragedy brings the war home to the dePaola family, and all Tomie can do is ask 'Why?' Just as he did in I'm Still Scared, the first instalment of The War Years, Tomie dePaola touchingly illuminates the emotional confusion of a child's life during wartime.