Tina Matthews

Tina Matthews was born and raised in New Zealand and now lives in Sydney where she works as a writer and illustrator, and as a visiting author in schools and libraries. She illustrates her books in a variety of ways, from Japanese woodblock to Adobe Photoshop. In 2008, her previous title Out of the Egg won the Best First Book Award at the New Zealand Post Book Awards and was listed as a CBCA Notable Book. Waiting for Later was short-listed for the 2011 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, Children’s Book – Mary Ryan’s Award. In 2012, it was also a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, Picture Book category, and the LIANZA Awards. A Great Cake was a finalist in the 2013 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, Picture Book category, and won the LIANZA Russell Clark Award for illustration. Tina has worked as a puppet maker and writer in children’s theatre and television for 25 years, including for ABC TV’s Bananas in Pyjamas and The Ferals, The Upside Down Show and Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. She has taught puppetry at NIDA for many years in the Bachelor of Fine Arts course and is the designer and producer of the bestselling Black and White Baby Mobile for newborn babies. For more information about the author please visit www.ttinamatthews.com