104 Questions
What natural disaster affected Meriden, Connecticut in 1938?
Hurricane
What was the name of the brook near the family's backyard?
Harbor Brook
Where did the family live before moving to 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Apartment on Columbus Avenue
What was the father's occupation?
Barbershop worker
What did the narrator mistakenly eat, thinking they were chocolates, with Nana Upstairs?
Laxatives
What were the narrator's favorite real-life movie stars?
Shirley Temple and Mae West
Where did the family go to see the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?
Capitol Theatre
What sparked the narrator's interest in art?
Walt Disney's cartoons and movies
How was Nana Upstairs positioned on Sundays?
Tied to a chair
What did the narrator's mother buy for them at the theater?
Mason's Black Crows
What did the narrator call the Italian grandmother?
Nana Fall River
What did the narrator mistakenly eat, thinking they were chocolates, with Nana Upstairs?
Laxatives
What was the Irish grandfather referred to as?
Tom
What did the narrator refer to the Irish great-grandmother as?
Nana Upstairs
What was the significant and memorable experience for the narrator?
The movie Snow White
Where did the Italian relatives of the narrator live?
Massachusetts and the Bronx, New York City
What event prompted the narrator and their family to pick up neighborhood children from school early?
Approaching storm
During the storm, what did the narrator witness resembling Mary Poppins?
A boy lifted by a gust of wind holding an umbrella
What did the narrator's mother use to calm Mrs. Crane and others during the storm?
Holy water
What was the significance of the year 1938 for the narrator's family?
It marked the beginning of the construction of the family home
Why was the family's decision to build a house in the chosen area met with skepticism?
It was considered 'out in the sticks'
What interrupted the construction of the narrator's family home?
The hurricane
What did the fallen trees after the hurricane form for the narrator and friends?
A new shortcut
Who sought refuge at the narrator's apartment during the hurricane?
Mrs. Crane
What did the family and neighbors do during the hurricane?
Gathered to watch the hurricane from the apartment windows
What was the source of excitement for the narrator's Irish and Italian relatives?
The new house at 26 Fairmount Avenue
What was observed before the storm resumed during the hurricane?
The eye of the hurricane
What caused chaos during the car ride home for the narrator and the children?
Storm causing branches to fall and signs to fly off buildings
What did Tomie decide to draw on the walls?
His family members, including deceased relatives
What did the plasterers do to Tomie's drawings on the walls?
Covered them with plaster
What made the backyard project urgent for Tomie's family?
The city scraped more dirt than expected
What was the reason for emphasizing windless conditions during the backyard project?
To prevent the fire from spreading to the house
Who convinced Tomie to return to kindergarten after he left on the first day?
His mom, emphasizing the importance of passing to learn to read
What did Tomie want to learn on his first day of kindergarten?
To read
Who assured Tomie that his drawings on the walls would always be there under the plaster?
His grandfather
Who was involved in the backyard project along with Tomie's family?
Neighbors
What did Tomie draw on the walls before the plasterers covered them?
His family members, including deceased relatives
Who was initially unsure how to handle Tomie's decision to leave kindergarten?
Tomie's dad
Who had also taught Tomie's older brother, Buddy?
The kindergarten teacher
What did Tomie's family and neighbors do to help with the backyard project?
Burned off the overgrown area on a windless day
What frustrated Tomie about the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'?
The movie's ending differing from the true story
What unexpected challenge did the family face during the construction of their house?
City's decision to build Fairmount Avenue
What did Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk symbolize for Tomie?
A sign of encouragement for his artistic ambitions
What disrupted the construction of the family's house?
City's decision to build Fairmount Avenue
What did Tomie aspire to become?
An artist
What innovative solution did the family come up with due to the city's decision to build Fairmount Avenue?
Building a walkway to the house
What was the impact of Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk on Tomie's artistic ambitions?
It encouraged and inspired him
What did Tomie's family plan to do to finish the construction of their house?
Finish the house with the help of his father's friends
What caused a delay in the construction of Tomie's family house?
Dispute with the builder
What was the impact of the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' on Tomie?
It fueled his artistic ambitions
What did the family and neighbors do to help with the house construction?
Physically contributed to the construction
What was the impact of the family's disappointment with the unfinished house?
They planned to finish the house with the help of his father's friends
What caused chaos during the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'?
The Evil Queen ordering the huntsman to take Snow White into the woods
What did the Evil Queen ask the Magic Mirror?
Who is the fairest of them all?
What made the narrator's brother 'freak out' during the movie?
The Evil Queen ordering the huntsman to take Snow White into the woods
What did the narrator's mother do when the kids became scared during the movie?
Took the narrator's brother to the lobby
What did the narrator use to draw on the plasterboard walls?
Chalk
What caused significant upheaval for the family's property?
City's decision to develop Fairmount Avenue as a real street
What material were the interior walls of the house constructed with?
Plasterboard
What did the family eagerly anticipate during Easter?
Receiving new outfits for church
Who finished building the house after the original builder was fired?
The narrator's father's friends
What did the narrator draw on the plasterboard walls?
Family members
What caused the house to remain unfinished for a period of time?
A disagreement with the architect
What did the family use to create a walkway to the house?
Boards and wooden planks
What did the narrator draw on the walls with his blue chalk?
Family members
What was the narrator given permission to draw on the walls?
Family members
What did the family experience due to the city's decision to develop Fairmount Avenue?
Emotional distress
What did the narrator draw on the walls, unable to depict the upstairs bedrooms?
Family members
What did the radio announcer mention about Morton Downey?
He was the narrator's mom's first cousin
Who brought hot popcorn and ice cream to the narrator's house on New Year's Eve?
Mr. and Mrs. Morin
Where did the narrator's family move to?
26 Fairmount Avenue
Who did the narrator spend the day with while their parents were packing boxes?
Uncle Charles and Mickey Lynch
What did the narrator and Uncle Charles do at Tom and Nana's grocery store?
Helped with stocking shelves
Where did the narrator's family go for the day to avoid being in the way during the move?
Wallingford
What did the narrator find on their new bedroom wall at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
A mirror that looked like a ship's wheel
Who was waiting for the narrator and their family at their new house?
Dad and Mom
What did the narrator find on their new bed at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Their pajamas
What did the narrator's family and neighbors do to help with the backyard project?
Helped with the construction
What did the narrator find on the wall beside the front door of their new house?
A black metal cutout of a tree branch with a squirrel sitting on it
What did the narrator find on the bed nearer the door in their new bedroom?
Their pajamas
What did Tomie do on his first day of kindergarten?
He walked out after being told he wouldn't learn to read until first grade
What caused chaos during the backyard burning project?
The fire getting out of control
What did the community members use to contain the fire during the backyard burning?
Brooms and wet burlap bags
What was the reason for Tomie's return to kindergarten?
Not passing kindergarten would prevent him from entering first grade
What was the impact of the backyard burning on the family and community?
Preventing any serious damage
What did Tomie's family plan for their new house?
A nursery and shared bedroom for the children
What was the community's response to the backyard project?
They came together to help
What did Tomie's grandfather reassure him about?
His drawings being under the plaster
What did the family plan to do with the overgrown backyard?
Clear it and plant grass
What was the reason for Tomie's dislike of kindergarten?
He was told he wouldn't learn to read until first grade
What did the family and community work together to manage?
The fire during the backyard burning
What did Tomie's family organize to clear the overgrown backyard?
A backyard burning
What caused significant damage to the street and prompted the city to redo the whole street?
The heavy rainstorm and flooding
What event prompted the protagonist to learn about guardian angels and ask for help?
The New Year's Eve Dance
What marked significant progress in the construction of 26 Fairmount Avenue?
The interior stairs being built
What was the family celebrating during their last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
The completion of the house construction
What did the heavy rainstorm cause to happen in the backyard?
The backyard turned into muddy streams
What was the protagonist's wish during the New Year's Eve Dance?
To have the muddy streams frozen
What disrupted the construction of the family's house at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
A heavy rainstorm
What did the protagonist receive during the last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
A harmonica
What prompted the city to redo the whole street?
The heavy rainstorm and flooding
What did the protagonist ask for help with during the New Year's Eve Dance?
To have the muddy streams frozen
What did the protagonist receive during the last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
A harmonica
What disrupted the construction of the family's house at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
A heavy rainstorm
Study Notes
Tomie's Family and School Adventures
- Tomie asked his parents if he could draw on the walls, and they agreed until the plasterers came.
- Tomie decided to draw his family members in different corners of the living room, including deceased relatives.
- The plasterers covered Tomie's drawings, but his grandfather assured him they would always be there under the plaster.
- Tomie's family planned a backyard project to clear the overgrown area, but the city scraped more dirt, making the project urgent.
- Tomie started school and wanted to learn to read, but on his first day, he left because he was told they don't learn to read in kindergarten.
- Tomie's dad left it to his mom to convince him to return to kindergarten, emphasizing the importance of passing to learn to read.
- The family and neighbors helped with the backyard project by burning off the overgrown area on a windless day.
- Tomie's dad emphasized the importance of windless conditions to prevent the fire from spreading to the house.
- Tomie's mom and dad, along with neighbors, were involved in the backyard project.
- Tomie went back to kindergarten but didn't like it.
- The kindergarten teacher had also taught Tomie's older brother, Buddy.
- Tomie's dad was initially unsure how to handle Tomie's decision to leave kindergarten, leaving it to his mom to convince him to return.
Tomie dePaola's Childhood Memories and Frustrations
- Tomie dePaola's reaction to the movie "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
- The discrepancies between the movie and the true story of "Snow White"
- Tomie's frustration with the movie's ending and how it differed from the true story
- His family's house construction being delayed due to a dispute with the builder
- The excitement around Easter and the family's disappointment with the unfinished house
- The plan to finish the house with the help of his father's friends
- The unexpected challenge of the city's decision to build Fairmount Avenue
- The innovative solution of building a walkway to the house
- The progress made on the house, including the roof and interior walls
- Tomie's aspiration to become an artist
- The impact of Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk on Tomie
- The vivid imagery of the blank walls and Tomie's artistic ambitions
Life at 26 Fairmount Avenue
- The story depicts a fire incident where the protagonist's mother, using a hose, saves the house from burning down.
- The aftermath of the fire leads to the hiring of an old Italian man with a horse and plow to fix the burned backyard.
- A heavy rainstorm causes the backyard to turn into muddy streams, flooding the street and creating significant damage.
- The protagonist's family faces a setback as the city needs to redo the whole street due to the mess caused by the flooding.
- The protagonist learns about guardian angels and asks for help, which results in the rain stopping and the frozen mud allowing work on the house to resume.
- The interior stairs at 26 Fairmount Avenue are finally built, marking significant progress in the house's construction.
- The family celebrates their last Christmas on Columbus Avenue, with the protagonist receiving gifts like an Uncle Wiggly game and a harmonica.
- The Christmas party is emotional, with neighbors expressing their fondness for the family and their home.
- The family enjoys a traditional Christmas dinner at Tom and Nana's house, with a sense of excitement building for their imminent move to 26 Fairmount Avenue.
- The parents attend a New Year's Eve Dance, leaving the protagonist and his friend in the care of a neighbor for their own party.
- The story captures the family's journey as they eagerly anticipate moving into their new house at 26 Fairmount Avenue after the festive season.
- The narrative is filled with moments of resilience, optimism, and community bonds as the family navigates challenges and eagerly anticipates new beginnings.
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