Tomie DePaola (1934-2020) produced an extraordinarily varied body of work that encompasses folktales and legends, informational books, religious and holiday stories, and autobiographical tales. Deceptively simple, his stories contain layers of emotional meaning that appeal to readers of all ages.

DePaola is probably best known for the “Strega Nona” picture book series. Set in southern Italy, the gently humorous stories focus on Strega Nona, or “Grandma Witch,” who uses magic to help with matters of the heart and to cure her neighbors’ ills. Published in 1975, the first book in the series received a Caldecott Honor as one of the most distinguished picture books published that year.

The “Strega Nona” stories read like well-worn folktales, as do plenty of dePaola’s other works. Some of his books retell legends that have shaped cultures around the world. Other stories are dePaola inventions. Many of his books emphasize family relationships and draw on dePaola’s personal experience. “I’ve discovered,” he once said, “that children most respond to books based on my own life.”

Whatever the subject, dePaola's illustrations are instantly recognizable. Characterized by bright but muted tones and flat, two-dimensional perspectives, they offer a distinctive mix of Romanesque painting styles and traditional folk art. Objects that meant the most to dePaola — notably hearts and white birds — recur throughout his work.

In all his books, dePaola tried to convey three fundamental truths: Success depends on hard work, happiness relies on embracing one’s true self, and love and kindness underscore all.

In 2011, the American Library Association awarded him the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now the Children’s Literature Legacy Award) for his “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”

DePaola died in Lebanon, NH, after complications from surgery following a fall. Following his death, the Currier Museum established the Tomie dePaola Art Education Fund to support art instruction for young people from all backgrounds. Counting more than 100 pieces of art by dePaola in its permanent collection, the museum shares his long-held belief in the power of art to transform a child’s life.