Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola ; September 15, 1934 – March 30, 2020) was an American writer and illustrator. He created more than 260 children's books such as "Strega Nona". He won the Children's Literature Legacy Award in 2011. dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut. DePaola appeared in several episodes of "Barney & Friends" as himself. In 2017 he also appeared as himself in the Jim Henson Company series "Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola". DePaola was openly gay.