Connecticut news

May 1, 2023

Meriden Library and USPS Celebrate Author Tomie dePaola in Special Stamp Dedication Event

Tomie dePaola Stamp

What:

USPS and Meriden Library celebrate the new Tomie dePaola postage stamp at a special stamp unveiling and story hour on May 19.

Tomie dePaola, a renowned kids book author and illustrator was born in Meriden, CT on Sept. 15, 1934, to a barber father and a homemaker mother. His family was close-knit, and his paternal grandparents hailed from the region of Italy where he set his best-known series of picture books.

The USPS stamp illustrating dePaola’s original artwork from the cover of his 1975 book Strega Nona will be officially issued May 5 in Manchester, N.H.

Who:

Rebecca Starr, Acting Library Director Meriden Library
Anthony Ruffino, Postmaster Meriden
David Guiney, USPS District Manager

When:

Friday, May 19, 2023
10 a.m. to noon  

Where:

Meriden Public Library
Meriden Mall
470 Lewis Ave., Unit 4036
Meriden, CT 06451

Background:

This stamp honors Tomie dePaola (1934–2020), whose extraordinarily varied body of work encompasses folk tales and legends, informational books, religious and holiday stories, and touching autobiographical accounts. His illustrations are immediately recognizable by their clean, bold lines and uncomplicated shapes. Deceptively simple, dePaola’s stories contain layers of emotional meaning and appeal to readers of all ages.

The stamp art features a detail from the cover of “Strega Nona” (1975), a Caldecott Honor Book and the first in a popular series. The title character, “Grandma Witch” in Italian, uses magic to cure her neighbors’ ills and to help with matters of the heart. The stamp image shows her carrying her magic pasta pot.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.

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The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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