Tomie dePaola is the beloved Caldecott Honor- and Newbery Honor-winning author and/or illustrator of close to 250 books, including Strega Nona and Quiet . Tomie was born in Connecticut and grew up there with his parents, brother, and two sisters. He loved reading and books from an early age and knew, when he was four, that he wanted to write and illustrate stories when he grew up. Tomie is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the American Library Association for his "substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children," the Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Regina Medal from the Catholic Library Association, and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature." He was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in illustration and has received the New Hampshire's Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure.