26 Fairmount Avenue is the first book in an autobiographical series by Tomie dePaola.  This book won a Newbery Honor award in 2000. Tomie dePaola was a renowned writer and illustrator of fictional children’s books, but this book is about his real-life childhood. This was his first chapter book. He tells the story of his childhood growing up in New England in the 1930s. His parents decide to build a house at 26 Fairmount Avenue in the small town of Meriden, Connecticut. However, construction is repeatedly delayed for various reasons. For example, his parents decide to fire the original builder before the house is completed, because he was not building the house in the way that Tomie’s parents wanted. Also, construction is delayed because town workers scraped away dirt on Fairmount Avenue, making the street lower. As unexpected challenges come up, Tomie wonders whether his family will ever be able to move from their small apartment into the new house.

This book is enjoyable to read because the story is told from the perspective of a child. I was surprised by how young Tomie dePaola was at the time of the events of this book. He was only between four and five years old, yet he has a vivid memory of that time. He shares many amusing stories from that period in his life. I especially enjoyed learning about his family and his Irish and Italian heritage. Tomie seems very respectful of his family members. For example, I appreciated his relationship with his great-grandmother. Tomie loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. This book describes the value of a loving family and a happy home.

I have appreciated Tomie dePaola’s books since I was a child, so it was nice to learn about his childhood. This is a very short book, but I enjoyed it very much. The story is quite charming, and the illustrations by Tomie dePaola are excellent as always. 26 Fairmount Avenue would be a great choice for someone who is just beginning to read chapter books, but I would recommend it to anyone.

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.