Honoring the Voice and Work of Tomie dePaola
Photograph of Tomie by Laurent Linn
A conversation on creativity, family, and storytelling
As teachers and students return to classrooms and creative work in the new year, Story Preservation Initiative is taking a look back into our archive to share the story of Tomie dePaola (1934 - 2020), a voice that has long been a trusted companion in learning spaces. For generations, Tomie’s stories have lived on classroom shelves, reading rugs, and bedside tables, shaping how children understand family, imagination, and the power of storytelling.
Tomie’s books invite children into worlds shaped by family, tradition, imagination, and care.
In this recording, Tomie reflects on his childhood, creative life, and the experiences, both joyful and difficult, that shaped his work. He speaks openly about drawing, storytelling, perseverance, and the importance of staying true to one’s own voice. As with all Story Preservation recordings, the conversation is unhurried and personal, allowing listeners to hear not only what Tomie created but also how and why he created it.
Listen to the Story Preservation Initiative recording of Tomie dePaola here.
Visit the official website of Tomie dePaola here.
For students, hearing directly from Tomie offers something a book alone cannot. Younger learners are encouraged to see their own experiences as sources for stories and art. Upper elementary students begin to understand that creative work develops over time, through practice, curiosity, and patience. Middle and high school students encounter Tomie’s reflections as a thoughtful exploration of voice, authenticity, and purpose, opening conversations about identity, audience, and responsibility in creative work.
Across age levels, the recording models the value of listening closely to lived experience. By engaging with Tomie’s voice, students are reminded that stories are shaped by real people and real lives, and that personal narratives play an essential role in our shared cultural life. This is central to Story Preservation Initiative’s educational mission: preserving first-person voices and making them accessible to young people as a source of learning, reflection, and inspiration.
This recording is well-suited for classroom listening and discussion across grade levels, whether used in its entirety or in selected excerpts. Teachers may choose to focus on Tomie’s reflections on creativity, family stories, or the development of voice over time. As with all Story Preservation Initiative recordings, the goal is simple: to give students the opportunity to listen closely to a life lived with intention, curiosity, and care.
Now in post-production, our newest New Hampshire History recording will be available on the Story Preservation Initiative website soon. The discussion centers on the period before European settlement, informed by Abenaki knowledge passed down through generations and the archaeological record. It brings together archaeologist and anthropologist Meghan Howey with Abenaki elders Paul Pouliot and Denise Pouliot.
About Story Preservation
Our Mission: Story Preservation Initiative believes in the transformative power of story to connect people around our common humanity and create a better future.
Our Work: We are a leading producer and online distributor of original, content-rich audio-based narratives for K-12 students. SPI stories are the raw materials of history, roadmaps to scientific discovery, and windows to the minds of artists and skilled tradesmen and women.
What We Achieve: SPI brings listeners into personal contact with extraordinary people whose stories engage their hearts and minds, imparting content knowledge and fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as they open doors to possible career paths in professions associated with the arts, sciences, humanities, and skilled trades. We are fully open-source.
When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.
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