Author/illustrator Tomie dePaola has given readers a glorious glimpse into his life with such autobiographical picture books as Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs, Tom, and The Art Lesson. Now, following his Newbery Honor-winning 26 Fairmount Avenue and Here We All Are, Tomie dePaola uses an engaging chapter-book format to take readers back to his childhood, and recount more memorable moments from his funny, fabulous life. Whether he's starring in a dance recital, praying for his baby sister's recovery from pneumonia, making his mark in a new sidewalk's wet cement, or at last learning to read, Tomie's warmth and charm will delight readers -- and welcome them into his home.

DePaola's drawings lend his characteristic warmth and humor to this third installment in the 26 Fairmount Avenue chapter-book series, based on the author/artist's childhood. Ages 7-10. (June) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

K-Gr 4-Tally another winner for dePaola with this new installment in the "26 Fairmount Avenue" series. He graces the chapters with black-and-white spot sketches for homey details of baby sister's pneumonia, the 1939 World's Fair, and beginning first grade, to name a few. A conversational tone offers great read-aloud possibilities for the younger set. Plenty of humor and lighthearted details, like a chewing-gum beard and eating popcorn to avoid carsickness, will appeal to a wide audience. Add in the pleasure of mentioning familiar characters like grandfather Tom and the Nanas, and readers will be delighted with the final line, "There's more coming!"-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

A Child Magazine Best Book of 2001 Pick

As he did so skillfully in such autobiographical picture books as Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs, bestselling children's book author and illustrator dePaola continues the story of his life. In this third installment of the 26 Fairmount Avenue chapter-book series, dePaola evokes all the warmth of his close-knit family in episodes brimming with humorous detail.

DePaola is irresistible. In this simply told memoir, aimed directly at the hearts of his young readers, he follows 26 Fairmount Avenue (1999) and Here We All Are (p. 630) with more stories of his childhood. In this volume, his baby sister Maureen contracts pneumonia and has to be hospitalized, he gets a new outfit for the family's trip to the 1939 World's Fair in New York, and he's in a tap dance recital. He longs to get Miss Kiniry to be his first-grade teacher, even though she, like the principal, insists on spelling his first name"Tommy." Other remembrances include a family outing to the beach, a"Tiny Tot" wedding, and getting his first library card. DePaola spins out these recollections with pitch-perfect intensity, warmth, energy, and a precise sense of how it felt to be a kid. Almost a primer on how to write with emotional directness for young people, this will also teach its readers a little on how to tell their own stories. Best of all it gives value to the comings and goings that make up a life, even one as unique as dePaola's. Abundantly illustrated with wonderful vignettes and spot drawings of the cast of characters that includes all his friends and relations, it begs to be continued. More please. (Biography. 7-10)