Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola (2001)
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."
📺 Seasons & Episodes
Season 126 episodes
1. Tales Around the Table
⏱ 30 minTomie shows viewers around his studio table. Guest storytellers: Mary Sue Milliken and Sue Feniger.
2. Where Do You Get Ideas?
⏱ 30 minTomie tells us about his idea drawer. Guest storyteller: J.T. Steiny
3. What's a Story?
⏱ 30 minTomie offers two drawing - a beginning and an ending. Guest storyteller: Ed Eyth
4. Stories for Myself
⏱ 30 minTomie shows us his sketchbook, a visual journal. Guest storyteller: Alexandra Nichita
5. Food as Storytelling
⏱ 30 minTomie fries up his famous Popeye. Guest storyteller: Mary Ann Esposito
6. That's a Story?!
⏱ 30 minTomie shows how a collection of souvenirs tells a story. Guest storyteller: Charlotte Bird
7. Getting Started
⏱ 30 minTomie suggests ways to get started. Guest storyteller: Art Clokey
8. Character
⏱ 30 minTomie shows how visual traits help to define a character. Guest storytellers: Bill Barretta and Pepe the King Prawn
9. Setting
⏱ 30 minTomie discusses how changing the setting changes the story. Guest storyteller: John Iacovelli
10. Point of View
⏱ 30 minTomie takes a look at perspective. Guest storyteller: John E. Barrett
11. Performance as Storytelling
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about assuming a character’s voice & mannerisms. Guest storyteller: Martie Barylick
12. Every Picture Tells a Story
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about the story behind one of his paintings. Guest storyteller: Lotus Do Brooks
13. Making Sense of Our World Through Stories
⏱ 30 minTomie encourages kids to draw or make up stories to deal with emotions. Guest storyteller: Jane Yolen
14. Taking a Chance
⏱ 30 minTomie tells and shows the origins of his first chapter book. Guest storyteller: Frank Oz
15. Finding Your Audience
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about how stories and artwork change when they are shared with an audience. Guest storyteller: John Carney
16. Funny
⏱ 30 minTomie explains the comedy rule of three. Guest storyteller: Bill Larkin
17. Scary
⏱ 30 minTomie shows how different techniques can create a scary scene. Guest storyteller: David Barrington-Holt
18. Moods: Happy/Sad
⏱ 30 minTomie shows how a few lines can change the mood of a face. Guest storyteller: Natalie McMaster
19. History
⏱ 30 minTomie explains what a time capsule is. Guest storyteller: Victor Finkel
20. Music
⏱ 30 minGabe plays guitar riffs for Tomie that correspond to different moods. Guest storyteller: Dave Kinnoin
21. Make Believe Stories
⏱ 30 minTomie is doodling. Guest storyteller: Doug Chiang
22. Real Stories
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about how family photos can inspire stories. Guest storyteller: Chris Connelly
23. More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Versions
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about the different ways you can tell a story. Guest storyteller: Savage Steve Holland
24. More Than One Way to Tell a Tale - Techniques
⏱ 30 minTomie shows his Cornell boxes, using a different technique of art to tell a story. Guest storyteller: Sule Greg Wilson
25. Putting Heart Into Your Story
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about putting warmth, feeling, and emotion into a story. Guest storytellers: Kermit the Frog and Rizzo the Rat
26. Collaboration
⏱ 30 minTomie talks about collaboration. Guest storytellers: Stephen Holman and Josephine Huang
