Rating: 
Summary: first biography
Review: In reading this book to my first grade class, Tomie always left them wanting to know more about his life. This first book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series takes Tomie from the summer before kindergarten through his first year at his brothers "big" school. The story focuses on experiences dealing with moving in to a new house and neighborhood, having his teacher mispronounce his name, starting tap dancing lessons and many other events that shape his beginnings at his new life at 26 Fairmount Avenue. My students enjoyed every page of this new series, cover to cover and ended up checking out the book at the library all year! We continued to read the next four books throughout the year and continue to discuss them when we see each other around school. This new beginning biography series is a must have for every primary grade classroom.
Rating:
Summary: first biography
Review: In reading this book to my first grade class, Tomie always left them wanting to know more about his life. This first book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series takes Tomie from the summer before kindergarten through his first year at his brothers "big" school. The story focuses on experiences dealing with moving in to a new house and neighborhood, having his teacher mispronounce his name, starting tap dancing lessons and many other events that shape his beginnings at his new life at 26 Fairmount Avenue. My students enjoyed every page of this new series, cover to cover and ended up checking out the book at the library all year! We continued to read the next four books throughout the year and continue to discuss them when we see each other around school. This new beginning biography series is a must have for every primary grade classroom.
Rating:
Summary: Tomie's Life Story
Review: This book is about Tomie dePaola's childhood and "Here We All Are" is the sequel. The next sequel is coming out in spring of 2001. This book was selected as a NEWBERY HONOR BOOK in 2000.It is about Tomie when he was a young boy. His family has lived in apartments all their lives. They start to build a real house. Tomie is very excited about it. Tomie starts first grade and wants to learn how to read right away but the teacher says "Not until next year." Tomie says "Fine! I'll be back nest year." At the end Tomie and his family move into 26 Fairmount Avenue. I would recommend this book for anyone. I would give this book five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Great Childhood Story
Review: This book is an excellent story about the childhood of one of the best children's writers/illustrators that I know. His books are usually for younger children, but this one I read to myself and it was wonderful. If you're looking for a long book, don't get this, but on the whole, it's wonderful.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Up to dePaola's Usual Standards
Review: Tomie dePaola's first attempt at a longer work, 26 Fairmount Avenue, is not up to his usual standards of quality. The telling is dry. The events unexciting to young children. No doubt, however, that this book will likely be popular with dePaola's fans, of which I'm one. There is much biographical information to be gleened from it. However, it reads like an old man's memoir rather than a book for children. Tomie, whose strength is illustration, should stick with what he knows best. Obviously, someone at Putnam's must believe the corporate addage: Greed is good. There is simply no other reason to have published this lackluster title.
| 
