Tomie dePaola Stamps

With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service honors prolific children's book author and ilustrator Tomie dePaola (1934-2020), whoseextraordinanly vaed body ot work encompasses tolktales and legends, intormational books, religious and holiday stories. andtouching autobiographical tales. Deceptively simple, deaola's stories contain layers of emotional meaning that appea to readersof all ages.
The stamp art features a detail from the cover of Strega Nona. The first in a series, the book was published in 1975 and received aCaldeco Honor as one of the most distinguished picture books published that year Set in southern ltaly, the gently humorousstory focuses on Strega Nona, "Grandma Witch," who uses magic to help with matters of the heart and to cure her neichbors' ilsThe cover shows Strega Nona carrying her magic pasta pot. The small pink heart in the bottom right corner symbolizes the keyingredient to all of her magic: love.
The Strena Nona stories read like wel-worn folktales, as do plenty of dePaola's other works. Other books emphasize familyrelationships and draw on personal experience. "l've discovered " he often reflected, "that children most respond to books basedon my own life " In 1999, dePaola published 26 Fairmount Avenue. the Newbery Honor-winning first book in a series of eightautobiographies that offer a detailed snapshot of his life and family, from the late 1930s through the turmoil of World War .
Whatever the subject, dePaola's ilustrations are instantly recognizable. Characterized by bright but muted tones and flat, twodimensional perspective, they offer a distinctive mix of Romanesque painting styles and traditional folk art, Simple shapes andoold, clean lines belie complex compositions. Obiects that meant the most to dePaola--notablv hearts and white birds--recurthroughout his work.
Jeaola tred to convev three fundamental truths in all his books: Success depends on hard work, happiness relies on embracinoone's true self, and love and kindness underscore all. In 1990, he was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. thehichest international recoanition given to children's book authors and ilustrators, In 2011. the American Library Associationawarded him the Laura lngalls Wilder Award (now the Children's Literature Leqacy Award) for his "substantial and lastingcontribution to literature for children .!
Derry Noves served as art director and designer for this stamp.The Tomie dePaola stamp is being issued as a Forever0 stamp, This Forever stamp will alwavs be eoual in value to the curentFirst-Class Mail one-ounce price.
Made in the USA.
SKUs featured on this page: 483604