Matt Tavares

Matthew Manuel Tavares (born December 4, 1975) is an American author and illustrator of picture books for children.[1]

Matt Tavares was born in Boston, and grew up surrounded by books and reading. From the time he was very young, his mother read to him every night, and his family made countless trips to the public library. Years later, as a studio art major at Bates College, he rediscovered his love for picture books, and decided to try to make his own.

For his senior thesis project, Matt wrote and illustrated a story called Sebastian's Ball, about a boy who caught a magic foul ball at a Boston Red Sox game. Three years later, after much revision, Sebastian's Ball became Zachary's Ball, Matt's first published picture book. Zachary's Ball went on to win a Massachusetts Book Award Honor, and was named one of Yankee Magazine's 40 Classic New England Children's Books.

Since then, Matt has published eighteen more books and has won several awards, including three Parents' Choice Awards Gold Awards, an Orbis Pictus Honor, and two of Matt's books have been named ALA Notable books by the American Library Association. His artwork has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration, the Brandywine River Museum, and the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art.

When Matt is not working in his studio on his latest book project, he travels the country speaking and drawing at schools, libraries, conferences, and bookstores. He has presented at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Eric Carle Museum, the White House Easter Egg Roll, and he's even done a few book signings at Fenway Park.

Tavares is the author-illustrator of Red & Lulu, Growing Up Pedro, Henry Aaron's Dream, Mudball, Zachary's Ball, and Oliver's Game, the illustrator of The Gingerbread Pirates, Lighter Than AIr, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Jack and the Beanstalk and many more.

Matt Tavares lives in Maine with his wife and two daughters.[2]

Books

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Tavares, Matt". WorldCat Identities. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  2. ↑ Matt Tavares. "Matt Tavares Books: Bio". Author Official Website. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
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