de Paola, Tomi

de Paola, (Thomas Anthony) Tomi

(1934– ) writer, illustrator; born in Meriden, Conn. He graduated from Pratt Institute, New York (1956), the California College of Arts and Crafts (M.A., 1969), and settled in New London, N.H. He started as a freelance designer, illustrator, and writer in 1956, and is known for his books for young readers, such as Helga's Dowry (1977) and Pancakes for Breakfast (1978), which he illustrated as well as wrote.