Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola

2001•30m

The show featured children's book author Tomie dePaola and his Muppet friend Gabe the squirrel, encouraging children to make their own stories in a variety of media. In each episode, Tomie told a story featuring his storybook characters Strega Nona, Big Anthony and Bambolona. Gabe visited The Animal Band, a group of woodland creatures, including a rabbit on drums, a weasel on guitar, a penguin on bass, and a raccoon on keytar. Each episode also featured a visit with a guest storyteller or two (often people connected to the Jim Henson Company). The final segment of each episode included a child actor playing Tomie enacting stories from his book "26 Fairmount Avenue."

Production

Production

Seasons

26 Episodes • Premiered 2001

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 1: Tales Around the Table

1. Tales Around the Table

Tomie shows viewers around his studio table. Guest storytellers: Mary Sue Milliken and Sue Feniger.

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 2: Where Do You Get Ideas?

2. Where Do You Get Ideas?

Tomie tells us about his idea drawer. Guest storyteller: J.T. Steiny

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 3: What's a Story?

3. What's a Story?

Tomie offers two drawing - a beginning and an ending. Guest storyteller: Ed Eyth

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 4: Stories for Myself

4. Stories for Myself

Tomie shows us his sketchbook, a visual journal. Guest storyteller: Alexandra Nichita

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 5: Food as Storytelling

5. Food as Storytelling

Tomie fries up his famous Popeye. Guest storyteller: Mary Ann Esposito

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 6: That's a Story?!

6. That's a Story?!

Tomie shows how a collection of souvenirs tells a story. Guest storyteller: Charlotte Bird

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 7: Getting Started

7. Getting Started

Tomie suggests ways to get started. Guest storyteller: Art Clokey

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 8: Character

8. Character

Tomie shows how visual traits help to define a character. Guest storytellers: Bill Barretta and Pepe the King Prawn

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 9: Setting

9. Setting

Tomie discusses how changing the setting changes the story. Guest storyteller: John Iacovelli

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 10: Point of View

10. Point of View

Tomie takes a look at perspective. Guest storyteller: John E. Barrett

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 11: Performance as Storytelling

11. Performance as Storytelling

Tomie talks about assuming a character’s voice & mannerisms. Guest storyteller: Martie Barylick

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 12: Every Picture Tells a Story

12. Every Picture Tells a Story

Tomie talks about the story behind one of his paintings. Guest storyteller: Lotus Do Brooks

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 13: Making Sense of Our World Through Stories

13. Making Sense of Our World Through Stories

Tomie encourages kids to draw or make up stories to deal with emotions. Guest storyteller: Jane Yolen

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 14: Taking a Chance

14. Taking a Chance

Tomie tells and shows the origins of his first chapter book. Guest storyteller: Frank Oz

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 15: Finding Your Audience

15. Finding Your Audience

Tomie talks about how stories and artwork change when they are shared with an audience. Guest storyteller: John Carney

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 16: Funny

16. Funny

Tomie explains the comedy rule of three. Guest storyteller: Bill Larkin

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 17: Scary

17. Scary

Tomie shows how different techniques can create a scary scene. Guest storyteller: David Barrington-Holt

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 18: Moods: Happy/Sad

18. Moods: Happy/Sad

Tomie shows how a few lines can change the mood of a face. Guest storyteller: Natalie McMaster

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 19: History

19. History

Tomie explains what a time capsule is. Guest storyteller: Victor Finkel

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 20: Music

20. Music

Gabe plays guitar riffs for Tomie that correspond to different moods. Guest storyteller: Dave Kinnoin

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 21: Make Believe Stories

21. Make Believe Stories

Tomie is doodling. Guest storyteller: Doug Chiang

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 22: Real Stories

22. Real Stories

Tomie talks about how family photos can inspire stories. Guest storyteller: Chris Connelly

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 23: More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Versions

23. More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Versions

Tomie talks about the different ways you can tell a story. Guest storyteller: Savage Steve Holland

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 24: More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Techniques

24. More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Techniques

Tomie shows his Cornell boxes, using a different technique of art to tell a story. Guest storyteller: Sule Greg Wilson

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 25: Putting Heart Into Your Story

25. Putting Heart Into Your Story

Tomie talks about putting warmth, feeling, and emotion into a story. Guest storytellers: Kermit the Frog and Rizzo the Rat

Still image for Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola season 1 episode 26: Collaboration

26. Collaboration

Tomie talks about collaboration. Guest storytellers: Stephen Holman and Josephine Huang

Cast

Photo of Tomie DePaola

Tomie DePaola

himself

Photo of John E. Kennedy

John E. Kennedy

Gabe the Squirrel / Big Anthony / Raccoon

Photo of Bill Barretta

Bill Barretta

Strega Nona

Photo of Julianne Buescher

Julianne Buescher

Bambolona / Wesel

Photo of James Murray

James Murray

Rabbit

Photo of Alison Mork

Alison Mork

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