Tina Matthews facts for kids
Christina "Tina" Matthews (born in 1961 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a talented New Zealand author and illustrator. She also makes amazing puppets! Tina was born in Wellington but now works in Sydney, Australia. Before her writing and puppet career, she played bass guitar in cool bands like The Wide-Mouthed Frogs and The Crocodiles.
Tina Matthews' Life Story
Music Adventures
In 1979, Tina Matthews joined an all-girl band called The Wide-Mouthed Frogs. She played the bass guitar. Other band members were Jenny Morris (singer), Katie Brockie (singer), Andrea Gilkison (guitar), Bronwyn Murray (keyboards), and Sally Zwartz (drums).
In 1979, they released a song called "Some Day." It was part of a compilation album named Home Grown Volume One. In 1980, the band played at a big event called the Sweetwaters Music Festival. Tina and Jenny Morris also performed there with another band, The Crocodiles. After the festival, The Wide-Mouthed Frogs broke up.
In April 1980, The Crocodiles released their first album, Tears. The album and its main song, "Tears," both reached No. 17 on the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand music charts. In 1980, The Crocodiles won 'Best Group' and 'Most Promising Group' at the New Zealand Music Awards.
Puppet Making Fun
Tina started making puppets in 1979. She worked on a community art project called Summer City in Wellington. In 1982, Tina moved to Sydney, Australia. There, she learned from expert puppet makers like Ross Hill and Beverley Campbell-Jackson. She also worked with director Richard Bradshaw at the Marionette Theatre of Australia.
During the 1980s, Tina improved her puppet skills. She worked on the famous Jim Henson movie Labyrinth, which starred David Bowie. Later, she helped create puppets for the Australian ABC TV show The Ferals. She also made puppets for other ABC shows like Bananas in Pyjamas and The Upside Down Show with The Umbilical Brothers.
Amazing Books
Tina Matthews is also a wonderful author and illustrator. Her first book, Out of the Egg, came out in 2007. It was published in Australia, New Zealand, and the US. The book has beautiful pictures made with Japanese woodblock prints. Out of the Egg was nominated for an award in 2008. It won the 'Best First Book' award at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Her next book, Waiting for Later, was published in 2011. It tells the story of a young girl growing up during an autumn afternoon. The book shows themes of family, loving nature, and becoming independent. The pictures in Waiting for Later are made with woodblock and stencil prints. This book was also nominated for several awards.
Tina's picture book, A Great Cake, is all about using your imagination and cooking at home. It has pictures made with stencils and woodblock prints. A Great Cake was nominated for the 2013 NZ Post Book Awards. It won the LIANZA Russell Clark Award for its amazing illustrations.
In 2014, Tina published So Many Wonderfuls. This picture book is for both young and older readers.
In 2017, Tina self-published Do What You're Doing. This book is a read-aloud and sing-along story. It teaches about the problems of being distracted by digital devices. It also shows the joy of focusing on one thing at a time. The Eeore Chanticleers even turned it into a song!
In 1993, Tina Matthews also self-published the Black and White Baby Mobile. This mobile is for newborn babies. Over 40,000 copies have been sold! It is still made in New Zealand and Australia and sold in shops.
Besides creating picture books, Tina has taught puppetry for many years. She taught at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney. In May 2014, she was a writer and illustrator in residence at the University of New England.
In 2018, Tina published HOME. This is a special frieze/book based on a poem by Emily Dickinson.
