World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Don Tate

ドン・テイト

Don Tate

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1963-12-21
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Austin, Texas, USA

Career

Occupations
Illustrator, Author
Active Years
2000-
Affiliations
The Brown Bookshelf (co-founder), Texas Institute of Letters (member)
Memberships
Texas Institute of Letters

Awards

Lee & Low New Voices Honor Award
2012
Work: It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw
Organization: Lee & Low Books
Result: 受賞（Honor）
Ezra Jack Keats Book Award
2016
Work: Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
Organization: Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Result: 受賞
Carter G. Woodson Book Award
2016
Work: Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
Organization: Carter G. Woodson Book Award (organizers)
Result: 受賞
Christopher Award
2016
Work: Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
Organization: The Christophers
Result: 受賞
Texas Writer Award
2021
Organization: Texas Book Festival
Result: 受賞
Texas Institute of Letters Book Prize
2016
Organization: Texas Institute of Letters
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw

2012 Children's literature / Biography

A children's picture-book biography of folk artist Bill Traylor, depicting how he began creating art despite poverty and adversity.

BiographySelf-expressionPerseverance

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton

2015 Children's literature / Biography

A picture-book biography of 19th-century enslaved poet George Moses Horton, chronicling his self-taught journey to authorship.

History of slaveryLiteratureSelf-education

Say Hey! A Song of Willie Mays

2000 Children's literature / Biography

A picture-book biography of baseball great Willie Mays, for which Tate served as illustrator.

SportsBiographyAmerican culture

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Ernie Barnes

2021 Children's literature / Biography

A picture-book biography of Ernie Barnes, who transitioned from football player to painter.

Turning pointsArt and sportsSelf-expression

Jerry Changed The Game: How Engineer Jerry Lawson Revolutionized Video Games Forever

2023 Children's literature / Biography

A children's biography of engineer Jerry Lawson, highlighting his revolutionary contributions to video games.

History of technologyInnovationBiographical portrait

Bibliography

  • Say Hey! A Song of Willie Mays
  • It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw
  • Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
  • Strong As Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became The Strongest Man On Earth
  • William Still And His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad
  • Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Ernie Barnes
  • Jerry Changed The Game: How Engineer Jerry Lawson Revolutionized Video Games Forever

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Visually engaging picture-book illustration styleAccessible narrative for children presenting historical figures
Recurring Motifs
African-American historyAdversity and perseveranceSelf-expression and creativity

Legacy

Don Tate is an author-illustrator who promotes diversity and inclusion through children's picture-book biographies of often overlooked historical figures. Using engaging visuals and accessible narratives, he seeks to teach children about important histories and lives.

Academic Societies

  • Texas Institute of Letters

Archives

  • Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (archives / book launch)

Quotes

  • Children's books needed to show a range of experience, including suffering and enduring.
    Source: The New York Times (quoted article) (2015)

Trivia

  • Co-founder of The Brown Bookshelf to raise awareness of African American authors and illustrators.
  • Official website: dontate.com
  • Resides in Austin, Texas with his family.