Meet the Barkers: Morgan & Moffat Go to School (Barker Twins) - Hardcover

Morgan and Moffat, the Barker twins, are excited for school to start. Once there, Moffie sets out to earn as many gold stars as possible, while the more laid-back Morgie quietly goes about making firm friends with a few classmates. But after a few days, Moffie is given a gentle lecture from the teacher, who asks her to give other kids a chance to answer questions. Suddenly she realizes she's been so busy collecting stars, she hasn't made any friends yet. "I'll get gold stars and Morgie can get friends," she thinks. But then Morgie's time in the sun (or stars) finally arrives, when the teacher asks a question he can most definitely answer. By the end of the first week, both Morgie and Moffie have friends and stars--and they are in complete agreement about one thing: "We LOVE school!"

Tomie de Paola modeled Morgie and Moffie after two of his four charismatic Welsh terriers. De Paola, the Newbery Honor author/illustrator of 26 Fairmount Avenue and many other well-loved children's books, captures the drama and dilemmas of school and illustrates the best way to find a balance between friendships and studies. His understated, humorous text is accompanied by highly appealing illustrations of the young pups in acrylic on handmade watercolor paper. Here is the perfect first-day-of-school book for the little Morgies and Moffies in every classroom. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1934, to a family of Irish and Italian background. His determination to create books for children led to a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and an MFA from the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, California. 

His particular way with color, line, detail, and design have earned him many of the most prestigious awards in his field, among them a Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona, the Smithsonian Medal, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal for his "continued distinguished contribution," and the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion. He was also the 1990 United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for illustration, and received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for lifetime contribution to children's literature in 2011.

DePaola has published almost 200 children's books in 15 different countries over the past 30 years. Among his most well-known titles are the Strega Nona series, 26 Fairmount Avenue, and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.

DePaola lives in an interesting house in New Hampshire with his four dogs. His studio is in a large renovated 200-year-old barn.