Matt Tavares


Matthew Manuel Tavares is an American illustrator and writer of children's picture books.
WWW matttavares.com

Biography

Tavares was born in Boston. During his childhood, his mother read to him every night and his family often visited the local library. He majored in studio art at Bates College.
As his senior thesis at Bates, Tavares wrote and illustrated "Sebastian's Ball", a story about a boy who catches a magical foul ball at a Boston Red Sox game. Three years later in 2000, after much revision, it became his first published picture book, Zachary's Ball from Candlewick Press. Zachary's Ball went on to win a Massachusetts Book Award Honor and to be named one of "40 Classic New England Children's Books" by Yankee Magazine.
At least 20 more books illustrated by Tavares have been published since then, including several for which he has written the text. They have won several awards including three Parents' Choice Gold Awards. His artwork has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration, the Brandywine River Museum, and the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art.
When not working in his studio, Tavares 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, and the White House Easter Egg Roll, and has done book signings at Fenway Park.
Tavares lives in Maine with his wife and two daughters.

Published books

Where no writer is named, Tavares is the writer as well as the illustrator.Zachary's Ball 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, or Account of A Visit from St. Nicholas, Anonymous, 1823 Oliver's Game Mudball Jack and the Beanstalk, by E. Nesbit, 1908 Iron Hans: A Grimm's Fairy Tale, retold by Stephen Mitchell Lady Liberty: A Biography, by Doreen Rappaport The Gingerbread Pirates, by Kristen Kladstrup Henry Aaron's Dream Jack's Path of Courage: The Life of John F. Kennedy, by Doreen Rappaport Over the River and Through the Wood: The New England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day, by Lydia Maria Child, 1848 There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller, by Doreen Rappaport Becoming Babe Ruth Jubilee: One Man's Big, Bold and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace, by Alicia Potter – about P. S. GilmoreGrowing Up Pedro – about Pedro MartínezCrossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventures of the Great Blondin Lighter Than Air: Sophie Blanchard, the First Woman Pilot , by Matthew Clark Smith Red & Lulu
  • Dasher
  • A Ben of All Trades, by Michael J. Rosen
  • Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, by Jeff Gottesfeld
  • ''Dasher Can't Wait for Christmas''

Awards and honors

Awards:
Other honors:
Other listings: