Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

26 Fairmount Avenue is the story of Tomie dePaola and his family. Tomie has an older brother named Buddy and a large extended family which includes three grandmothers. His family is building a new house in the town of Meriden, Connecticut and Tomie cannot wait to move in. Tomie is four years old when the story begins and he will soon be starting kindergarten.

In Chapter 1, Tomie, his mother and father and brother Buddy all live in an apartment on Columbus Avenue. Tomie is excited about the new house on Fairmount Avenue. In 1938, a hurricane hits Meriden. Everyone is especially scared because hurricanes are very rare in the northeastern United States. Also, in 1938, the dePaolas are building their first (and only) house on Fairmount Avenue.

Tomie and his mother drive to the school. Since there is a hurricane coming, everyone is being...