Tad Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tad Hills
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reading at the 2014 Gaithersburg Book Festival
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| Born | April 1, 1963 Needham, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
Tad Hills, born on April 1, 1963, in Needham, Massachusetts, is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He is famous for creating beloved characters like Duck and Goose, and Rocket the dog. His books are enjoyed by many young readers around the world.
His first picture book, Duck & Goose, became a New York Times bestseller. It was also named an ALA Notable Book for Children. This book is about two bird friends who have many adventures together. Readers loved the characters so much that the series grew.
The Duck & Goose series now includes nine titles. Some popular ones are Duck, Duck, Goose; Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin; and Duck & Goose, It's Time for Christmas. An animated series based on these books started streaming on Apple TV+ in July 2022.
Hills also wrote How Rocket Learned to Read. This book won the Irma Simonton Black & James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature. It also became a New York Times bestseller. A follow-up book, Rocket Writes a Story, was also very popular. It reached the #1 spot on the New York Times Best Seller list. Many places, like Amazon.com and Publishers Weekly, named it a top picture book of the year.
About Tad Hills: His Early Life and Career
Tad Hills grew up in Norwell, Massachusetts. He lived in a very creative home. His grandmother was a talented artist. They often painted, drew, and made books together. His mother was a 4th-grade science teacher. She helped him love nature by bringing home many animals. These included raccoons, owls, and other wild creatures.
Hills once said that his interest in making things might be in his genes. He comes from a family of engineers.
Education and Inspiration
Hills earned a degree in art from Skidmore College in New York. However, he believes his best learning experience has been raising his own children. He explained that spending time with his kids helps him remember what it's like to be a child. He tries to capture that innocent and excited view of the world in his books. He wants kids to see themselves in his characters.
How He Started Illustrating Books
Tad Hills has tried many different art forms. He has explored acting, making jewelry, and even designing interiors. He began illustrating picture books in the late 1990s. At that time, his wife, Lee Wade, worked for Simon & Schuster's children's book division.
Lee often asked him to try illustrating books when she couldn't find another artist. Hills published the first Duck & Goose book in 2006. This was when his wife and her friend Anne Schwartz started Schwartz & Wade Books. This company is part of Random House.
Hills currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their two children.
