Tomie Live in Concert

Tomie dePaola has been drawing on bedsheets and scribbling on white walls since he was four years old. Yes, he got into trouble for ruining his sheets and you bet the artwork behind the wallpaper in his bedroom made his parents angry, but dePaola never doubted his calling to be an illustrator and, boy, are we lucky! Fast forward 60 years, and we find that small boy has become a 64-year-old nut! He's got energy enough to read to his audience (500 children--plus or minus a few bigger folks) a couple of stories (including his most famous page-turner Strega Nona), give viewers a quick lesson in drawing sheep (along with a special sketch of Strega Nona with her big fat fanny!), tell some wonderful stories about growing up, demonstrate the secret of how to pucker your lips and use your wrist in a big wide sweeping motion just right to make a big Italian kiss, and treat us all to a little tap dancing. Performing onstage at the Dana Center on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, dePaola obviously enjoys what he's doing, as much as the audience loves watching him. He's the "Pied Piper of children's books," and young readers have been gladly following him for years. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, I, P. (N. Plympton)