Matt Travares is visiting the second grade students at William O. Schaefer Friday, October, 10th!

Matt wrote and illustrated his first picture book, Sebastian’s Ball, as a senior in College. Three years later, after much revision, Sebastian’s Ball became Zachary’s Ball, his first published picture book. Zachary’s Ball went on to win an Oppenheim Gold Seal Award, a Massachusetts Book Award Honor, and was named one of Yankee Magazine’s 40 Classic New England Children’s Books.

Since then, Matt published fifteen more books! He is the author-illustrator of Growing Up Pedro, Becoming Babe Ruth, There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived, Henry Aaron’s Dream, Mudball and Oliver’s Game.

His is the illustrator of Jubilee! by Alicia Potter, Over the River and Through the Wood by L. Maria Child, Helen’s Big World, by Doreen Rappaport, Jack’s Path of Courage: The Life of John F. Kennedy, written by Doreen Rappaport, The Gingerbread Pirates, by Kristin Kladstrup, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, attributed to Anonymous, Jack and the Beanstalk, by E. Nesbit, Iron Hans: A Grimms’ Fairy Tale, retold by Stephen Mitchell, and Lady Liberty: A Biography, by Doreen Rappaport.

In his book titled, Growing Up Pedro, Matt Tavares crafted a fitting homage to a modern-day baseball star that examines both his improbable rise to the top of his game and the power that comes from the deep bond between brothers.
Before Pedro Martinez pitched the Red Sox to a World Series championship, before he was named to the All-Star team eight times, before he won the Cy Young Award three times, he was a kid from a place called Manoguayabo in the Dominican Republic. Pedro loved baseball more than anything, and his older brother Ramon was the best pitther he’d ever seen. He dreamed of the day he and his brother could play together in the major leagues.

This is the story of how that dream came true.

On Friday, Matt will be sharing his experience as an author and an illustrator with us! He is also know to show students how he illustrates and sketches the characters for his books! Get ready for an awesome experience!

Below is a quick drawing demonstration by Matt Tavares, filmed during a school visit in April of 2013, at C.K. Burns School in Saco, Maine.