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Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola
Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola
TV ShowEnded

Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola

2001
1 season
26 episodes
FamilyKids

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."

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Cast

Tomie DePaola

John E. Kennedy

Bill Barretta

Julianne Buescher

James Murray

Alison Mork

I

Isaiah Griffin

Seasons

  • Tales Around the Table

    1.Tales Around the Table

    06-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 2

    2.Where Do You Get Ideas?

    07-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 3

    3.What's a Story?

    08-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 4

    4.Stories for Myself

    09-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 5

    5.Food as Storytelling

    10-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 6

    6.That's a Story?!

    13-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 7

    7.Getting Started

    14-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 8

    8.Character

    15-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 9

    9.Setting

    16-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 10

    10.Point of View

    17-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 11

    11.Performance as Storytelling

    20-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 12

    12.Every Picture Tells a Story

    21-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 13

    13.Making Sense of Our World Through Stories

    22-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 14

    14.Taking a Chance

    23-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 15

    15.Finding Your Audience

    24-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 16

    16.Funny

    27-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 17

    17.Scary

    28-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 18

    18.Moods: Happy/Sad

    29-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 19

    19.History

    30-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 20

    20.Music

    31-08-200130m

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

  • Ep 21

    21.Make Believe Stories

    04-09-200130m

    Tomie is doodling. Guest storyteller: Doug Chiang

  • Ep 22

    22.Real Stories

    05-09-200130m

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

  • Ep 23

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

    06-09-200130m

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

  • Ep 24

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

    07-09-200130m

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

  • Ep 25

    25.Putting Heart Into Your Story

    10-09-200130m

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

  • Ep 26

    26.Collaboration

    11-09-200130m

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

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