Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola

Season 1

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."

Where to Watch Season 1

The Roku ChannelFree

26 Episodes

Tales Around the Table
E1
Tales Around the TableTomie shows viewers around his studio table. Guest storytellers: Mary Sue Milliken and Sue Feniger.
Where Do You Get Ideas?
E2
Where Do You Get Ideas?Tomie tells us about his idea drawer. Guest storyteller: J.T. Steiny
What's a Story?
E3
What's a Story?Tomie offers two drawing - a beginning and an ending. Guest storyteller: Ed Eyth
Stories for Myself
E4
Stories for MyselfTomie shows us his sketchbook, a visual journal. Guest storyteller: Alexandra Nichita
Food as Storytelling
E5
Food as StorytellingTomie fries up his famous Popeye. Guest storyteller: Mary Ann Esposito
That's a Story?!
E6
That's a Story?!Tomie shows how a collection of souvenirs tells a story. Guest storyteller: Charlotte Bird
Getting Started
E7
Getting StartedTomie suggests ways to get started. Guest storyteller: Art Clokey
Character
E8
CharacterTomie shows how visual traits help to define a character. Guest storytellers: Bill Barretta and Pepe the King Prawn
Setting
E9
SettingTomie discusses how changing the setting changes the story. Guest storyteller: John Iacovelli
Point of View
E10
Point of ViewTomie takes a look at perspective. Guest storyteller: John E. Barrett
Performance as Storytelling
E11
Performance as StorytellingTomie talks about assuming a character’s voice & mannerisms. Guest storyteller: Martie Barylick
Every Picture Tells a Story
E12
Every Picture Tells a StoryTomie talks about the story behind one of his paintings. Guest storyteller: Lotus Do Brooks
Making Sense of Our World Through Stories
E13
Making Sense of Our World Through StoriesTomie encourages kids to draw or make up stories to deal with emotions. Guest storyteller: Jane Yolen
Taking a Chance
E14
Taking a ChanceTomie tells and shows the origins of his first chapter book. Guest storyteller: Frank Oz
Finding Your Audience
E15
Finding Your AudienceTomie talks about how stories and artwork change when they are shared with an audience. Guest storyteller: John Carney
Funny
E16
FunnyTomie explains the comedy rule of three. Guest storyteller: Bill Larkin
Scary
E17
ScaryTomie shows how different techniques can create a scary scene. Guest storyteller: David Barrington-Holt
Moods: Happy/Sad
E18
Moods: Happy/SadTomie shows how a few lines can change the mood of a face. Guest storyteller: Natalie McMaster
History
E19
HistoryTomie explains what a time capsule is. Guest storyteller: Victor Finkel
Music
E20
MusicGabe plays guitar riffs for Tomie that correspond to different moods. Guest storyteller: Dave Kinnoin
Make Believe Stories
E21
Make Believe StoriesTomie is doodling. Guest storyteller: Doug Chiang
Real Stories
E22
Real StoriesTomie talks about how family photos can inspire stories. Guest storyteller: Chris Connelly
More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Versions
E23
More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - VersionsTomie talks about the different ways you can tell a story. Guest storyteller: Savage Steve Holland
More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Techniques
E24
More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - TechniquesTomie shows his Cornell boxes, using a different technique of art to tell a story. Guest storyteller: Sule Greg Wilson
Putting Heart Into Your Story
E25
Putting Heart Into Your StoryTomie talks about putting warmth, feeling, and emotion into a story. Guest storytellers: Kermit the Frog and Rizzo the Rat
Collaboration
E26
CollaborationTomie talks about collaboration. Guest storytellers: Stephen Holman and Josephine Huang