Tomie participated in an event for the New Hampshire Humanities Council five years ago. Owen surprised Tomie with his chicken feet “hands” at the autographing. Background. The book, TOM. Tomie’s Irish grandfather Tom, a butcher, gave Tomie real chicken feet. Tom showed Tomie how to pull the tendon of the chicken foot to open and close the foot. Young Tomie painted the claws red with his mother’s nail polish. He went to school hiding the chicken feet up his sleeves, and terrorized classmates by surprising them with chicken feet that opened and closed. Owen didn’t have real chicken feet hidden up his sleeves. He had rubber chicken feet. Upper right photo. How’s THAT for joy? (Bob)
