26 Fairmount Avenue: Summary and book reviews of 26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola, plus links to an excerpt from 26 Fairmount Avenue and a biography of Tomie dePaola.
26 Fairmount Avenue
by Tomie dePaola
Hardcover: Nov 1998,
255 pages.
Paperback: Mar 2001,
255 pages.
In a striking debut, Tomie dePaola finds just the right voice for his first chapter book about his adventures during the year the family built their house at 26 Fairmount Avenue.
It all began when the "Big Hurricane of 1938" roared into town...then his first day of school took an unexpected turn...so did Mr. Disney's Snow White, the movie everyone had been waiting to see. These are only a few of the stories that will have readers racing from one episode to the next. Tomie fans, young and old, will be delighted to find favorite characters from his picture books, such as Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, Tom and others.
Funny, dramatic and memorable moments combined with lively illustrations throughout will make everyone wish they had grown up in the dePaola family.
BOOK REVIEWS
Media Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
The legions of fans who over the years have enjoyed dePaola's autobiographical picture books will welcome this longer gathering of reminiscences.
Publishers Weekly
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.
School Library Journal
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.
Patricia Reilly Giff
Tomie dePaola's readers are going to love this longer look into his world. He has given us a rollicking glimpse into life in the thirties and his own childhood. The writing is vivid and clear to the emerging reader; the story warmly and beautifully told.
Patricia MacLachlan
26 Fairmount Avenue is a charming, gentle, funny beginning of what we hope will be more stories of Tomie's Life, told in the voice of the child Tomie. His respect and reverence for both the old and the young is clear - in his life and in his stories.
Paula Danziger
By reading this book, I know even more about my pal Tomie. Everyone should read 26 Fairmount Avenue-and feel like Tomie's his or her friend too. Fine writing-fine art-fine friend!
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by anita hyde
this is a great book and so are the others you have created
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Patricia Reilly Giff
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