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Author Revealed

Nancy Tafuri
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Nancy Tafuri

Nancy Tafuri is the much-loved creator of more than thirty books for young children, including the Caldecott Honor Book Have You Seen My Duckling? and I Love You, Little One. She lives with her husband and daughter in Roxbury, Connecticut.

Author Revealed:
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Attitude is everything.
Learn more about Nancy Tafuri
Nancy Tafuri Revealed
About Nancy Tafuri
  • What is your birthdate?:
    11/14
  • Previous occupations:
    Assisant Art Director at Simon & Schuster Trade Books, Freelance book jacket designer.
  • Favorite job:
    Writing and illustrating children's books for the very young.
  • High school and/or college:
    Butler High School, Butler, New Jersey. School of Visual Arts, NYC
  • Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:
    Antonio Vivaldi
  • Favorite movie:
    Fairy Tale: A True Story
  • Favorite television show:
    The Travel Channel / PBS
Revealing Questions
Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. I would not trade my life with anyone's!
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Attitude is everything.
Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
A. Sitting down to a meal with my family.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. Breaking my arm!
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
A. Musee de'Orsay, Paris
Q. With whom in history do you most identify?
A. Beatrix Potter
Q. Which living person do you most admire?
A. My husband, Tom.
Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?
A. "What's for dinner?"
Q. What do you regret most?
A. Not being fluent in another language.
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. Singing.
Q. What is your greatest achievement?
A. My daughter, Cristina.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
A. Being too fussy.
Q. What’s your best quality?
A. Patience.
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel.
Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?
A. Optimistic.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
A. Miss Piggy.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
A. Agatha Trunchabull in "Matilda."
Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
A. Henri Matisse. I love your work!
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. The question: "How do I get my book published?"
Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
A. Illustrating.
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
A. Being a painter.
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
A. Humor, Humility, and Honesty.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
A. Herb Roasted Chicken.
Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?
A. Yves Duteil along with Paolo Conte's HAPPY FEET and any song from Rod Stewart's AMERICAN SONG BOOK SERIES.
On Books and Writing
Q. Who are your favorite authors?
A. Ernest Hemmingway, Andrea Di Robilant, Antonia Fraser, Paulo Coelho, Sarah Dunant, Dava Sobel, A.R. Gurney, Anita Diamant
Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
A. The Old Man In The Sea,The Birth Of Venus,Galileo's Daughter,The Passion of Artemisia,The Alchemist
Q. Is there a book you love to reread?
A. THE HAPPY DAY by Ruth Krauss
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
A. On writing for the very young...research the age group and keep it simple
Q. What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
A. "How many animals do you have?"
Q. How did you come to write Big Storm?
A. THE BIG STORM A Very Soggy Counting Book started to bud when Alexandra, (my editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) and I were having a phone conversation after her most recent plane trip out to visit her family. Alexandra mentioned how all the flights were canceled because of a big storm. Then I commented on how I can watch the animals outside my studio dash about just before a storm begins and take shelter in the old apple tree out my window. Then Alexandra said, "That would make a good counting book." That's all I needed to hear!
Q. How did you come to write Big Storm?
A. THE BIG STORM A Very Soggy Counting Book started to bud when Alexandra, (my editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) and I were having a phone conversation after her most recent plane trip out to visit her family. Alexandra mentioned how all the flights were canceled because of a big storm. Then I commented on how I can watch the animals outside my studio dash about just before a storm begins and take shelter in the old apple tree out my window. Then Alexandra said, "That would make a good counting book." That's all I needed to hear!