Tomie dePaola is a children's book author and illustrator, best known for his books Strega Nona, Bill and Pete, The Art Lesson, and Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs. He has been published for over forty years and, in that time, has written and/or illustrated over 200 children's books. His books have received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Newbury Honor award, and he has received seven honorary doctoral degrees including degrees from Emerson College, University of Connecticut, and Georgetown University. Tomie dePaola attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where he studied art.