Podcast
Questions and Answers
What natural disaster affected Meriden, Connecticut in 1938?
What natural disaster affected Meriden, Connecticut in 1938?
What was the name of the brook near the family's backyard?
What was the name of the brook near the family's backyard?
Where did the family live before moving to 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Where did the family live before moving to 26 Fairmount Avenue?
What was the father's occupation?
What was the father's occupation?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator mistakenly eat, thinking they were chocolates, with Nana Upstairs?
What did the narrator mistakenly eat, thinking they were chocolates, with Nana Upstairs?
Signup and view all the answers
What were the narrator's favorite real-life movie stars?
What were the narrator's favorite real-life movie stars?
Signup and view all the answers
Where did the family go to see the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?
Where did the family go to see the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?
Signup and view all the answers
What sparked the narrator's interest in art?
What sparked the narrator's interest in art?
Signup and view all the answers
How was Nana Upstairs positioned on Sundays?
How was Nana Upstairs positioned on Sundays?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator's mother buy for them at the theater?
What did the narrator's mother buy for them at the theater?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator call the Italian grandmother?
What did the narrator call the Italian grandmother?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator mistakenly eat, thinking they were chocolates, with Nana Upstairs?
What did the narrator mistakenly eat, thinking they were chocolates, with Nana Upstairs?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the Irish grandfather referred to as?
What was the Irish grandfather referred to as?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator refer to the Irish great-grandmother as?
What did the narrator refer to the Irish great-grandmother as?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the significant and memorable experience for the narrator?
What was the significant and memorable experience for the narrator?
Signup and view all the answers
Where did the Italian relatives of the narrator live?
Where did the Italian relatives of the narrator live?
Signup and view all the answers
What event prompted the narrator and their family to pick up neighborhood children from school early?
What event prompted the narrator and their family to pick up neighborhood children from school early?
Signup and view all the answers
During the storm, what did the narrator witness resembling Mary Poppins?
During the storm, what did the narrator witness resembling Mary Poppins?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator's mother use to calm Mrs. Crane and others during the storm?
What did the narrator's mother use to calm Mrs. Crane and others during the storm?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the significance of the year 1938 for the narrator's family?
What was the significance of the year 1938 for the narrator's family?
Signup and view all the answers
Why was the family's decision to build a house in the chosen area met with skepticism?
Why was the family's decision to build a house in the chosen area met with skepticism?
Signup and view all the answers
What interrupted the construction of the narrator's family home?
What interrupted the construction of the narrator's family home?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the fallen trees after the hurricane form for the narrator and friends?
What did the fallen trees after the hurricane form for the narrator and friends?
Signup and view all the answers
Who sought refuge at the narrator's apartment during the hurricane?
Who sought refuge at the narrator's apartment during the hurricane?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family and neighbors do during the hurricane?
What did the family and neighbors do during the hurricane?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the source of excitement for the narrator's Irish and Italian relatives?
What was the source of excitement for the narrator's Irish and Italian relatives?
Signup and view all the answers
What was observed before the storm resumed during the hurricane?
What was observed before the storm resumed during the hurricane?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused chaos during the car ride home for the narrator and the children?
What caused chaos during the car ride home for the narrator and the children?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie decide to draw on the walls?
What did Tomie decide to draw on the walls?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the plasterers do to Tomie's drawings on the walls?
What did the plasterers do to Tomie's drawings on the walls?
Signup and view all the answers
What made the backyard project urgent for Tomie's family?
What made the backyard project urgent for Tomie's family?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the reason for emphasizing windless conditions during the backyard project?
What was the reason for emphasizing windless conditions during the backyard project?
Signup and view all the answers
Who convinced Tomie to return to kindergarten after he left on the first day?
Who convinced Tomie to return to kindergarten after he left on the first day?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie want to learn on his first day of kindergarten?
What did Tomie want to learn on his first day of kindergarten?
Signup and view all the answers
Who assured Tomie that his drawings on the walls would always be there under the plaster?
Who assured Tomie that his drawings on the walls would always be there under the plaster?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was involved in the backyard project along with Tomie's family?
Who was involved in the backyard project along with Tomie's family?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie draw on the walls before the plasterers covered them?
What did Tomie draw on the walls before the plasterers covered them?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was initially unsure how to handle Tomie's decision to leave kindergarten?
Who was initially unsure how to handle Tomie's decision to leave kindergarten?
Signup and view all the answers
Who had also taught Tomie's older brother, Buddy?
Who had also taught Tomie's older brother, Buddy?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie's family and neighbors do to help with the backyard project?
What did Tomie's family and neighbors do to help with the backyard project?
Signup and view all the answers
What frustrated Tomie about the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'?
What frustrated Tomie about the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'?
Signup and view all the answers
What unexpected challenge did the family face during the construction of their house?
What unexpected challenge did the family face during the construction of their house?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk symbolize for Tomie?
What did Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk symbolize for Tomie?
Signup and view all the answers
What disrupted the construction of the family's house?
What disrupted the construction of the family's house?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie aspire to become?
What did Tomie aspire to become?
Signup and view all the answers
What innovative solution did the family come up with due to the city's decision to build Fairmount Avenue?
What innovative solution did the family come up with due to the city's decision to build Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the impact of Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk on Tomie's artistic ambitions?
What was the impact of Mr. Johnny Papallo's gift of blue chalk on Tomie's artistic ambitions?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie's family plan to do to finish the construction of their house?
What did Tomie's family plan to do to finish the construction of their house?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused a delay in the construction of Tomie's family house?
What caused a delay in the construction of Tomie's family house?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the impact of the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' on Tomie?
What was the impact of the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' on Tomie?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family and neighbors do to help with the house construction?
What did the family and neighbors do to help with the house construction?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the impact of the family's disappointment with the unfinished house?
What was the impact of the family's disappointment with the unfinished house?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused chaos during the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'?
What caused chaos during the movie 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the Evil Queen ask the Magic Mirror?
What did the Evil Queen ask the Magic Mirror?
Signup and view all the answers
What made the narrator's brother 'freak out' during the movie?
What made the narrator's brother 'freak out' during the movie?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator's mother do when the kids became scared during the movie?
What did the narrator's mother do when the kids became scared during the movie?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator use to draw on the plasterboard walls?
What did the narrator use to draw on the plasterboard walls?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused significant upheaval for the family's property?
What caused significant upheaval for the family's property?
Signup and view all the answers
What material were the interior walls of the house constructed with?
What material were the interior walls of the house constructed with?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family eagerly anticipate during Easter?
What did the family eagerly anticipate during Easter?
Signup and view all the answers
Who finished building the house after the original builder was fired?
Who finished building the house after the original builder was fired?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator draw on the plasterboard walls?
What did the narrator draw on the plasterboard walls?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused the house to remain unfinished for a period of time?
What caused the house to remain unfinished for a period of time?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family use to create a walkway to the house?
What did the family use to create a walkway to the house?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator draw on the walls with his blue chalk?
What did the narrator draw on the walls with his blue chalk?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the narrator given permission to draw on the walls?
What was the narrator given permission to draw on the walls?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family experience due to the city's decision to develop Fairmount Avenue?
What did the family experience due to the city's decision to develop Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator draw on the walls, unable to depict the upstairs bedrooms?
What did the narrator draw on the walls, unable to depict the upstairs bedrooms?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the radio announcer mention about Morton Downey?
What did the radio announcer mention about Morton Downey?
Signup and view all the answers
Who brought hot popcorn and ice cream to the narrator's house on New Year's Eve?
Who brought hot popcorn and ice cream to the narrator's house on New Year's Eve?
Signup and view all the answers
Where did the narrator's family move to?
Where did the narrator's family move to?
Signup and view all the answers
Who did the narrator spend the day with while their parents were packing boxes?
Who did the narrator spend the day with while their parents were packing boxes?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator and Uncle Charles do at Tom and Nana's grocery store?
What did the narrator and Uncle Charles do at Tom and Nana's grocery store?
Signup and view all the answers
Where did the narrator's family go for the day to avoid being in the way during the move?
Where did the narrator's family go for the day to avoid being in the way during the move?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator find on their new bedroom wall at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
What did the narrator find on their new bedroom wall at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
Who was waiting for the narrator and their family at their new house?
Who was waiting for the narrator and their family at their new house?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator find on their new bed at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
What did the narrator find on their new bed at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator's family and neighbors do to help with the backyard project?
What did the narrator's family and neighbors do to help with the backyard project?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator find on the wall beside the front door of their new house?
What did the narrator find on the wall beside the front door of their new house?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the narrator find on the bed nearer the door in their new bedroom?
What did the narrator find on the bed nearer the door in their new bedroom?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie do on his first day of kindergarten?
What did Tomie do on his first day of kindergarten?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused chaos during the backyard burning project?
What caused chaos during the backyard burning project?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the community members use to contain the fire during the backyard burning?
What did the community members use to contain the fire during the backyard burning?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the reason for Tomie's return to kindergarten?
What was the reason for Tomie's return to kindergarten?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the impact of the backyard burning on the family and community?
What was the impact of the backyard burning on the family and community?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie's family plan for their new house?
What did Tomie's family plan for their new house?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the community's response to the backyard project?
What was the community's response to the backyard project?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie's grandfather reassure him about?
What did Tomie's grandfather reassure him about?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family plan to do with the overgrown backyard?
What did the family plan to do with the overgrown backyard?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the reason for Tomie's dislike of kindergarten?
What was the reason for Tomie's dislike of kindergarten?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the family and community work together to manage?
What did the family and community work together to manage?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Tomie's family organize to clear the overgrown backyard?
What did Tomie's family organize to clear the overgrown backyard?
Signup and view all the answers
What caused significant damage to the street and prompted the city to redo the whole street?
What caused significant damage to the street and prompted the city to redo the whole street?
Signup and view all the answers
What event prompted the protagonist to learn about guardian angels and ask for help?
What event prompted the protagonist to learn about guardian angels and ask for help?
Signup and view all the answers
What marked significant progress in the construction of 26 Fairmount Avenue?
What marked significant progress in the construction of 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the family celebrating during their last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
What was the family celebrating during their last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the heavy rainstorm cause to happen in the backyard?
What did the heavy rainstorm cause to happen in the backyard?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the protagonist's wish during the New Year's Eve Dance?
What was the protagonist's wish during the New Year's Eve Dance?
Signup and view all the answers
What disrupted the construction of the family's house at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
What disrupted the construction of the family's house at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the protagonist receive during the last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
What did the protagonist receive during the last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What prompted the city to redo the whole street?
What prompted the city to redo the whole street?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the protagonist ask for help with during the New Year's Eve Dance?
What did the protagonist ask for help with during the New Year's Eve Dance?
Signup and view all the answers
What did the protagonist receive during the last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
What did the protagonist receive during the last Christmas on Columbus Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
What disrupted the construction of the family's house at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
What disrupted the construction of the family's house at 26 Fairmount Avenue?
Signup and view all the answers
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.