The Cloud Book
Tomie De Paola is internationally recognized for having written and illustrated many children's books, including "The Lady of Guadalupe", "The Clown of God", "Cat on the Doverfell", "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring", and "Strega Nona", a Caldecott Honor book. Using watercolours and inks in this book to create full-colour illustrations, Mr. de Paola is faithful to the text. Since St. Nicholas is described in the poem as "a right jolly old elf," the artist has made him elflike, and shows him driving a miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. Mr. de Paola has set the poem in a mid-nineteenth century New England town, using quilt designs from his own collection for the borders. This is the 100th book he has illustrated.