Linda Perkins (Booklist, August 1999 (Vol. 95, No. 22))
In an attractive chapter book, dePaola describes the year before his family moved from an apartment into their new home on Fairmount Avenue. Starting with a vivid account of the hurricane of 1938, he recalls an unfortunate but funny episode with a laxative, disappointment with "Mr. Walt Disney's Snow White," and his first day of kindergarten. Everything is seen through the eyes of five-year-old Tomi as construction problems arise with the new house: "My mom kept crying. My dad kept using more and more bad words." Reminiscent of Clyde Robert Bulla's appealing chapter books, the colloquial narrative gently meanders, introducing family, friends, and neighbors, noting holidays, anticipating moving day. Black-and-white sketches add a decorative touch and will draw children into the story. In an appended note, dePaola explains why and how he wrote this memoir and promises more. With this charming first installment, the series is off to an auspicious start. Category: Middle Readers. 1999, Putnam, $13.99. Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud.

Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
This year, well-known author and illustrator DePaola won a Newbery Honor award for his first-chapter book in which he recounts early adventures in his life. He writes about watching the hurricane of 1938 take over his neighborhood, mistaking laxatives for chocolates, and painting family portraits on the walls of his new home before the plasterers arrive. DePaola's style is brisk and readable, the anecdotes well chosen, and he promises more autobiographical chapter books will follow. 1999, Putnam, $13.99 and $5.99. Ages 6 to 9.

Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
In a real departure from his many other books, Tomie dePaola has written his first chapter book. It is a reminiscence about his childhood and the building of the family home at 26 Fairmount Avenue. The voice is that of a young boy, and the world is seen through his eyes. He tells about how he keeps his grandmothers and great grandmother straight and how much he enjoys spending time with them and other members of his extended family. The chapter relating his viewing of the Disney version of Snow White is a hoot. The day of the big move into the new house has been eagerly anticipated. Throughout the book, young Tomie shares his excitement about the construction as well as his parents angst. Black and white illustrations by the author are liberally sprinkled throughout the book. Kids who have moved up to chapter books will love this one. 1999, Putnam, $13.99. Ages 6 to 9.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2000)
An autobiographical easy chapter book details dePaola's life in 1938 at age five when he and his family were preparing to move from an apartment building to a house that they were having built for them. Frequent black-and-white line drawings and short, episodic chapters will encourage newly independent readers, who are likely to enjoy this as a story, even if they aren't familiar with dePaola himself. But for those familiar with his picture books, this will be a happy step up into the next level of books and reading. CCBC categories: Biography/Autobiography; Easy Fiction; The Arts. 1999, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 56 pages, $13.99. Ages 7-9.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1999)
The legions of fans who over the years have enjoyed dePaola's autobiographical picture books will welcome this longer gathering of reminiscences. Writing in an authentically childlike voice, he describes watching the new house his father was building go up despite a succession of disasters, from a brush fire to the hurricane of 1938. Meanwhile, he also introduces family, friends, and neighbors, adds Nana Fall River to his already well-known Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs, remembers his first day of school ("'When do we learn to read?' I asked. 'Oh, we don't learn how to read in kindergarten. We learn to read next year, in first grade.' 'Fine,' I said. 'I'll be back next year.' And I walked right out of school."), recalls holidays, and explains his indignation when the plot of Disney's "Snow White" doesn't match the story he knows. Generously illustrated with vignettes and larger scenes, this cheery, well-knit narrative proves that an old dog can learn new tricks, and learn them surpassingly well. 1999, Putnam, $13.99. © 1999 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Linda Harris Sittig (Parents Guide, Fall 2002 (Vol. 5, No. 1))
Well-loved children's book author and illustrator Tomie de Paola, recollects some of his favorite childhood memories in this three-tape set. The stories begin in 1938 when Tomie is four years old and his family starts to build their first real house. The last tape concludes as Tomie is six, and his family is celebrating New Years and living at 26 Fairmount Avenue. These tapes will be popular because each story is told with a sense of humor and delightful nostalgia. It is easy for the listener to envision the actual escapades of his family and friends during his childhood years. 2002, Listening Library, $13.99. Ages 4 up.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June 1999 (Vol. 52, No. 10))
Departing from picture books, dePaola here offers an autobiography of his life as a young boy in Meriden, Connecticut. In nine short chapters, the author talks about his family, his neighbors, and the excitement of building the new family house at 26 Fairmount Avenue, where he spent his youth. The book brings events and people to easy life, and the writing has an understated, unassuming rhythm. An occasional tendency to fall into tonal sameness undercuts the pace, but the black and white drawings break up the text and provide a glimpse into an affectionate household full of jolly personalities. Illustrations show comfortably familiar family members and friends amidst period hints like Mae West and Shirley Temple movies, no-dial phones, and old-model cars. Readers who have enjoyed dePaola’s family stories in picture-book format will happily snuggle up for this longer visit. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 1999, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1999, Putnam, 64p, $13.99. Grades 3-5.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 1999)
In a disarmingly unselfconscious reminiscence, the popular illustrator recounts the events that surrounded his family's move to the address of the title, in Meriden, Connecticut, when he was five years old. The immediacy of detail resists nostalgia, and dePaola is wise to what recent graduates of his picture books will find interesting. Neat sketches and silhouettes will draw browsers in to this satisfying easy chapter book. Category: Nonfiction-Biographies. 1999, Putnam, 58pp, $13.99. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 1: Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration.

Marsha Harper (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 12, No. 2))
Tomie DePaola presents his first chapter book, a story of the new house his family builds at 26 Fairmount Avenue in Meridian, CT, when he is about five years old. All the extended family, friends, and neighbors help in some way. The hired workmen, the city street builders, and especially the weather are all uncooperative by turns, but at last (after a last memorable New Year's Eve at the old house), moving-day comes. This is a simple, fairly undramatic story, full of family warmth. Children will identify with the lively, curious young boy who grows up to be a famous author-illustrator. They will also enjoy the mildly eccentric relatives he describes, and the drawings from his pen. Nonfiction (813 or biography). Grades 3-4. 1999, Putnam, 56p, $13.99. Ages 8 to 10.