If you ask anyone in my family, they will tell you, my favorite children’s book author and illustrator is Tomie dePaola. I am a huge fan! We were lucky enough to meet Tomie during a book signing at the Museum of Art in Cedar Rapids, Iowa when he turned 60. My girls (pictured below with Tomie) loved Strega Nona so it was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet the pasta pot creator while he was in town.
It was so fun to hear him speak about his work and bring his books home but the gallery of his picture book illustrations exhibited in the museum changed me. I don’t know how many repeat visits I made to his show or the length of time I spent looking and taking mental notes. It was embarrassing and yet it wasn’t enough.
That was 21 years ago and I still want to be like Tomie, as an artist and a person.
Above is my submission for the 2016 Tomie dePaola Award through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The 2016 prompt was to illustrate a moment from Philip Pullman’s version of “Little Red Riding Hood.” Tomie said, “Your task is to make me “FALL IN LOVE” with your illustration and especially with Red Riding Hood. I want to “meet her” for the first time.”
Her grandmother lived in the woods, about half an hour’s walk away. When Little Red Riding Hood had only been walking a few minutes, a wolf came up to her. She didn’t know what a wicked animal he was, so she wasn’t afraid of him.
Thanks for the opportunity Tomie!
Smiles,
Wendy