26 Fairmount Avenue (Newbery Honor Book, 2000) [Mass Market Paperback]

Tomie dePaola (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: 26 Fairmount Avenue

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kicking off a series by the same name, dePaola's effervescent chapter book recounts some memorable moments from the author's early years, surrounded by loving family members and friends. Fans will recognize a few of the cast members from the author's various autobiographical picture books. Organized as an engaging pastiche of memories from 1938 to 1939, the story's primary focus is the snafu-plagued construction and landscaping of the dePaola family's "first and only house," in Meriden, Conn. Within this clever framework, other diverting vignettes surface: during the hurricane of 1938, dePaola's mother sprinkles holy water on a terrified neighbor for protection; young Tomie generously shares "chocolates" he finds hidden in the bathroom with his Nana Upstairs (they turn out to be laxatives); and on the first day of kindergarten, when he learns that reading is not taught until first grade, he announces, "Fine, I'll be back next year," and heads home. 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. Readers will also appreciate a glimpse of the artist's early debut as he draws life-size images of his family on the plasterboard walls in his new house. DePaola seems as at home in this format as he did when he first crossed the threshold of 26 Fairmount Avenue, an address readers will eagerly revisit in the series' subsequent tales. Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4An autobiographical account of dePaolas childhood, centered on the building of his familys new house during the 1930s. Each short chapter is also a slice-of-life view of young Tomies worldwitnessing a hurricane, a disillusioning first day of kindergarten, a much anticipated theater trip to see Disneys Snow White, and holiday gatherings. The authors thrill at being allowed to draw on the walls of the new house before plastering would be a fantasy come true for many budding artists. DePaola presents it all with a keen understanding of the timeless concerns children share. Filled with subtle humor and detail that children will appreciate, the narrative is crisp and casual, making it an ideal read-aloud. Black-and-white drawings portray family members, many of whom are already familiar from earlier picture books. A thoroughly entertaining and charming story.Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (March 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698118642
• ISBN-13: 978-0698118645
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Literary
  • #18 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Literary

More About the Author

"Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934 to a family of Irish and Italian background. By the time he could hold a pencil, he knew what his life's work would be. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California.
It drove him through the years of teaching, designing greeting cards and stage sets, and painting church murals until 1965, when he illustrated his first children's book, Sound, by Lisa Miller for Coward-McCann. Eventually, freed of other obligations, he plunged full time into both writing and illustrating children's books.
He names Fra Angelico and Giotto, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn as major influences on his work, but he soon found his own unique style. His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his ""singular attainment in children's literature,"" the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his ""continued distinguished contribution,"" and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration.
Tomie dePaola has published almost 200 children's books in fifteen different countries. He remains one of the most popular creators of books for children, receiving more than 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.
- He has been published for over 30 years.
- Over 5 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
- His books have been published in over 15 different countries.
- He receives nearly 100,000 fan letters each year.
Tomie dePaola has received virtually every significant recognition for his books in the children's book world, including:
- Caldecott Honor Award from American Library Association
- Newbery Honor Award from American Library Association
- Smithson Medal from Smithsonian Institution
- USA nominee in illustration for Hans Christian Andersen Medal
- Regina Medal from Catholic Library Association

"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Introducing Personal Narratives to Young Writers, January 23, 2000

By 

mt (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 26 Fairmount Avenue (Hardcover)

26 Fairmont Avenue, simply written, is an easily understood example of writing from life experiences. I used this book as a read-aloud with my third grade class to introduce the concept of writing from memories and experiences. The students enjoyed hearing DePaola's story of his family's new house and were able to understand that the simplest things in our lives are often the best source of writing ideas.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 26 Fairmount Avenue...A Treasure, May 31, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: 26 Fairmount Avenue (Newbery Honor Book, 2000) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1938, Tomie dePaola is five years old and things are really beginning to happen. His family is building a new house with two floors and will be moving out of the apartment he's lived in his whole life. He'll be starting kindergarten, hopefully learning to read, and he just can't wait. Walt Disney's Snow White is at the movies and everybody's excited about going to see it and that was the year the big hurricane struck Connecticut..... Told in the first person, Mr dePaola has written a wonderfully heartwarming, autobiographical story, full of humor, drama, suspense and just the day to day ups and downs of a little boy's life. His easy to read text is written in a gentle conversational tone and fans of dePaola will recognize characters from his picture books, (Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs). This continuity adds intimacy to the story and makes youngsters feel like a part of the family. Perfect for readers 7-11, 26 Fairmount Avenue is also a terrific read aloud family book and the first of a new series that shouldn't be missed.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great children's story, July 7, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: 26 Fairmount Avenue (Newbery Honor Book, 2000) (Mass Market Paperback)

"26 Fairmount Avenue" is the first of this author's chapter books. It tells about dePaola and his family as a child, moving into a new house and a tragic hurricane. Tomie tells the story with grade level words for early chapter book readers. And there are illustrations too. But they are in black and white, like alot of chapter books would be in. This book is great. It even won the Newberry Medal.