Tomie dePaola is coming! Tomie dePaola is coming!

The legendary Caldecott and Newbery Honor Award-winning children's author and illustrator is coming to Southern Pines.

The Country Bookshop will host Tomie dePaola, author of "Strega Nona," the "26 Fairmount Avenue" series, and "The Legend of the Poinsettia," on Sunday, Sept. 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities. Admission is by ticket only.

"Being able to present Mr. dePaola, one of the most beloved children's authors in the world, to the community is very special to us," says Angie Tally, manager of children's books at the 56-year-old independent bookshop on Broad Street in Southern Pines. "We know the response will be overwhelming, that's why we are hosting the event at Weymouth Center."

Tomie dePaola has written and illustrated more than 200 books for children. They have been published in 15 different countries, and over 6 million copies have been sold worldwide.

"The Country Bookshop was selected as one of the few independent bookstores Mr. dePaola will visit before returning home to New Hampshire after being the featured speaker at the annual Southern Independent Booksellers Convention in Greenville, S.C., where he will present his new book, 'Strega Nona's Harvest,'" Tally says.

In keeping with the theme of bountiful giving in "Strega Nona's Harvest," The Country Bookshop is sponsoring a "Food-Raiser" during the month of September when donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted at the bookshop and at the event, which will then be donated to the Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care.

The Country Bookshop will also donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of dePaola's books for this event to the Coalition and to Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities.

Presentation tickets to hear Tomie dePaola speak at 6:30 p.m. and priority in the signing line will be available to the first 50 people with their paid preorder of one or more of dePaola's new books, "Strega Nona's Harvest," "For the Duration: The War Years," "My First Fairy Tale," and "Christmas Remembered," from The Country Bookshop. Each ticket admits two people. There is a limit of two presentation tickets per family or organization.

Signing line tickets are also available with a paid preorder at the bookshop or with the purchase of one or more books at Weymouth before the event begins.

Call The Country Bookshop at (910) 692-3211 for information and complete details, or go to their Web site at www.thecountrybookshop.biz.