The Rembrandt's of Junior High

About the Book

Named the Rembrandt's by the group's adversary Mario. Johnny talks Mr. Cannon the Art teacher, Mrs. Van Ryan their classroom teacher and Mr. Perry the school Principal into letting him and the Art staff construct Graduation scenery.  Mr. Cannon gives Johnny and the Art staff their very own Art room to work in.  They ask Mario's cousin Anthony to help them with the Graduation scenery. After the Graduation scenery was finished, Mario follows Anthony to the Art room. There, a fight occurs and the Graduation scenery is ruined.  Johnny not giving up talks Richie, Joey and Billy into putting on a play for Graduation instead.  They convert the scenery into a black castle.  Richie and Billy get on Johnny's nerves when they can't get their lines straight. After goofing off, Johnny puts an end to it by having a paint fight with them leaving the Art room with wall to wall powdered paint. Threatened not to graduate until the room was cleaned up, The Rembrandt's went to work along with Mario, cleaning up the room and being thankful just to graduate. Based on a true story.

About the Author

Richard K. De Paola Sr.  Born in Chicago, Illinois, July 12th 1934, played semi pro baseball for a year with the Chicago Roamers in the late 40’s. Giving up baseball, joined a talent group under the direction of Kay Bradshaw to perform on radio, and television with various comedy acts, and vocal groups in the early 50’s Drafted into the Army in 1957, served two years with the 530th Engineer Company in Germany as a Bridge Specialist.  There he met his wife Hedi.   After his discharge, lived in the Chicago land area raising a family. After working in the retail field, joined a     School District as a Custodian Maintenance worker.   Mr.Rich, as he was known to all the staff, and students started writing stories, and plays, in which some were used, and performed in the district. After completing a writer's course with the Institute of Children's Literature, published a play for teenagers, along with stories, and articles in area newspapers. A poem was published with the National Library of Poetry in 1998. He has a family of four daughters, and one son, with seven grandchildren. and is now retired in New Port Richey, Florida.