In kindergarten, Don Tate was hailed by his classmates as "the best drawer in class,"a title he carried proudly throughout grade school and college. Today, he's a published children's book author and illustrator. Don has illustrated more than 30 trade and educational books for children. A few: SAY HEY! A SONG OF WILLIE MAYS (Hyperion, 2000); SUMMER SUN RISIN' (Lee & Low Books, 2002); SURE AS SUNRISE (Houghton Mifflin, 2004); RON'S BIG MISSION (Dutton, 2009). SHE LOVED BASEBALL: THE EFFA MANLEY STORY (HarperCollins, 2010) is his most recent book. Don's first authored book, IT JES' HAPPENED: WHEN BILL TRAYLOR STARTED TO DRAW, received a Lee & Low New Voices Honor. It will publish in the spring of 2011. Don lives in Austin with his wife, Tammy, his son, Kolby, a dog and a hamster whom he fondly refers to as The Animals. He works part-time at the Austin American Statesman as an illustrator and graphics reporter.
Check out Don Tate's Website for more information.
photo credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell