Tomie dePaola Pens a Soothing Story for a Weary World by Melissa Fales
In an increasingly loud world, Tomie dePaola’s latest book is remarkably silent. “This book really came from me, but the idea is obviously much bigger than me,” he says. “I finished Quiet over a year ago and now what do I suddenly start reading about everywhere? Mindfulness. Being present. There’s a synchronicity there. Something’s happening amidst all the turmoil in this country. There’s a yearning for calm. There’s an energy. It’s interesting to think of quiet as an energy but it is a very positive one.” 4
Story Monsters Ink | December 2018 | StoryMonsters.com
With well over 260 books bearing his name and over 25 million copies sold, dePaola is a legend of children’s literature. He’s received Caldecott and Newbery Honor Awards and the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. Most people are familiar with his books—especially his stories about Strega Nona—and can instantly recognize his illustrations. Fewer people know he is a firm believer in and daily practitioner of meditation. “I don’t do Transcendental Meditation or anything that has a label,” he says. “I practice
