Through the Year With Tomie dePaola GIVEAWAY!

Note: I am now an Ignatius Affiliate, and earn money when readers purchase books through my links. 

When Tomie dePaola died a few years ago, I had just recently gotten up the nerve to ask him for an interview, and it’s an everlasting regret that I missed my chance. I don’t know how likely it is that he would have agreed, but he certainly was generous with his work. 

That’s one reason it feels like such a gift to have this new book, published posthumously: Through the Year With Tomie dePaola. Ignatius is sponsoring one copy for me to give away! Read on. 

Through the Year With Tomie dePaola collects the “art mail” he used to send to family and friends (and sometimes post on social media), and it is lovely. 

Each page features one of his bright, fluid illustrations of a saint or other depiction of a holy day, and is decorated with dePaola’s characteristic clouds, stars, leaves, flowers, and doves, and the pictures are accompanied by text written by Catherine Harmon and John Herreid. It feels like a beloved journal or sketchbook by someone in love with celebration of the liturgical year.

There is not an entry for every single day, but each month features between eight and fourteen little pictures and passages, and each month also ends with a list of “other important feast days.”

Some are well known

some are more obscure

some include prayers

a few are specifically American, while still staying grounded in the faith

and a few include history lessons, and are also just cute

It is a small, solid hardcover that comes with a ribbon bookmark, so you can keep your spot and dip into it as you move through the calendar. 

This book would be an easy enrichment for evening prayers, or would be a pleasant way to start the day with little ones. It would make an appealing baptism or first Communion gift (or confirmation gift, depending on how old kids are when your diocese confirms them). The reading level makes it completely appropriate for older kids, maybe through age 12 or even older, but they may look at the cover and think it’s aimed at younger kids. I would not hesitate to make it part of family prayers, though, even if you don’t have younger kids in the house, because dePaola’s art is for everybody.

AND NOW THE GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment on this post and I will use a random number generator to chose a winner in a few days. U.S. and Canada only, please. And please o please be sure that the email you use when you comment on this site is a real email address! I will be using it to contact you if you win. If the winner is “nicetryfeds@biteme.edu” then you won’t get your lovely book. 

If you just want to buy the book, which is $18.99, you can order it here. Go ahead! I get a commission! Mama needs a new set of teeth. 

This is the second book that John Herried has produced, and I’m delighted to see him using his considerable creative powers in this direction. If you haven’t yet checked out his Catholic Home Gallery, also from Ignatius, do take a look! It’s an excellent collection of contemporary Catholic artwork in all different styles, and the book is designed so you can pull the prints right out and hang them in your home. I interviewed John about it here. 

And thank you to Ignatius for sponsoring this giveaway!

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191 thoughts on “Through the Year With Tomie dePaola GIVEAWAY!”

    1. I once saw Tomie. He was just like I thought! He taught us how to draw sheep his way. I think about his book The Art Lesson, when I’m teaching classical art, which involves a lot of copying. The refrain is, Real Artists don’t Copy!

  11. My husband and I went to school with Catherine Harmon and her husband- so happy to see this project completed!

  14. Oooh! I’d love this! I just found three Tomie DePaola books I didn’t have at the secondhand store today and I felt like I’d won the lottery!

  17. Oh, this little book looks lovely! I’ll toss my hat in the ring, even though I don’t think I’ll get it.

  19. I’m planning to gift this book to my Mother in law for her birthday . She has a large number of his books and went to meet him at a promotional event years ago. She will be thrilled.

  20. Thanks for offering this! I’ve been eying this one— I do dearly love TdP & liturgical calendars. Glad to hear your positive review!

  32. Our family has enjoyed his books and artwork. Looks like a lovely book! Thanks for the chance to win it before buying!

  33. Would love to add this to our library. Such a great book for liturgical living with kiddos!

  45. I’m so excited about this new book. I have it on my wish list for myself because I’ve always loved his artwork! But I know my grandsons would like it too. Thanks for the chance to win!

  46. What a treasure this book would be! I love the art and I know it would be great company through the liturgical year in our house.

  56. Love his art and books and have enjoyed his “art mail” online that featured feast days and such. What a lovely collection! Thanks for the opportunity.

  60. It looks like amazing book for kids and adults alike! Thank you for doing a giveaway, good luck to everyone!

  61. I saw this book advertised the other day and added it to my list of ones I need to have in my home!

  62. We live just down the road from Tomie’s childhood home in Meriden CT. If I don’t win the book I will surely buy it!

  66. Pick me! Pick me! (I’d probably give it to my sister who teaches at a Catholic school.)

    Probably.

  69. This looks like a terrific present for my eight-year-old godson who reads very well indeed. Heck, it looks terrific for students in my classes, too, and now I know how to buy the books and kick something back to you. Thanks for the chance to win!

  77. I have been eyeing that book for awhile, the illustrations are gorgeous. And it would be fun for my kids too.

  84. I love this so much. Every Tomie dePaola book I have read makes me smile (and sometimes cry). Except Michael Bird Boy. That one just made me scratch my head. My parish one time contacted him to get permission to do a small play of one of his books with the children, and he simply lovely during the whole thing.

  89. So glad to learn about another Tommie dePaolo book! Thank you! And I’ m sorry you didn’t interview him!

  90. What a lovely book. I love that St. Irenaeus was one of the pages you showed – he’s my daughter’s patron, and I’d love to read this book with her!

  93. I love Tomie’s illustrations! I do think Catherine Harmon should have gotten her name on the cover, too though. I had to hunt to find out who wrote the text. I don’t think Tomie would have minded . . .

  94. Tomie’s work is so lovely! Thanks for hosting a giveaway, Simcha! Especially one that includes Canada 😁. You’re offering something rare (apart from the book).

  104. I’ve seen this book and it’s just delightful! I’d like to suggest a new project to Ignatius – a book of Tomie art that can be pulled out and framed. I would definitely be on board with that.

  114. Would love to win the book! And appreciate the reminder of Catholic Home Gallery book too, both are on my to buy list for myself and as gifts.

    1. We read so many Tomie DePaola books that my 2 year-old daughter wanted to name her baby sister Tomie DePaola. It is my everlasting regret that we didn’t.

  129. My daughter loves his books and now my grandchildren do to! Plus, he writes about Calabria, which is where my dad was born!

  130. This book looks lovely! Thanks for sharing it. I love his artwork. If I don’t win, I’ll probably order it😊

  131. I absolutely adore Tomie and am so grateful I was able to see him a few times in Concord before he passed. What a light in this world.

  137. How absolutely wonderful this book looks. If I don’t win, I’m going to buy it as a family Christmas present to read with my daughter through the year. <3

  138. Oh I love this! I would love to have a copy for prayer with my littles. I have loved Tomie dePaola’s books since I was a child.

  144. I would be thrilled to have this book – I will be donating one to my schools library either way 🙂

  146. He is one of my favorites! I met him when I was nine and was so excited I cried. I think I’d still have that reaction at 36 if he was not with the saints he loved so much!

  148. The book looks lovely. If I were to win, I would donate to my kids’ elementary school. There was a disaster with the roof over the summer, and all of the school’s books were ruined. This would help revive their library!

  155. Tomie dePaola is one of my all time favorite authors/illustrators. Thank you for sharing. Even if I don’t win, I will be buying this- I love that it would be good for adults and children too.

  156. I love Tomie de Paola’s work! This book seems lovely! It’s the kind of thing I’ll buy my kids “as a gift for them” because I want to read it. $19 you say…

  161. I’m ridiculously excited about this book. Definitely putting it on my kids’ Christmas wish list. You know, for the kids. And also for me.

  163. This book would be wonderful for our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd room, as an extension of the Level II Liturgical Calendar work! 🙂 Love it!

  167. This would make a nice gift for my new grandchild! Just found out today that my son is going to be a father!!

  171. What a gorgeous book! My (now grown) stepson introduced me to this author as a kid – one of his favorites!

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