Petra Mathers (1945–2024)
Author of Lottie's New Beach Towel
About the Author
Petra Mathers came to the U.S. when she was 23. She started painting the walls in her son's room and eventually had a gallery showing of her art. Friends encouraged her to try illustrating children's books. Her early books were filled with black-and-white illustrations, but Petra really wanted to show more do color. She has moved on and among the books that have garnered praise are Kisses from Rosa, Sophie and Lou, Patchwork Island and When It Snowed that Night. Petra now writes her own stories and accompanies them with full-color art. Her heart is in the Lottie stories and she said that she would like to be as prolific as Beatrix Potter and do scads of books. Her latest is Dodo Gets Married in which Lottie's friend Dodo meets a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot with a wooden leg. It is a match made in heaven and the wedding preparations and big celebration bring all of her characters together at one big happy event. Petra is a self-taught artist. Her earliest works were created with crayons and cheap watercolors. Petra believes that her inspiration comes from the muses-all she really does is record what is coming to her. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Petra Mathers
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1945-03-25
- Date of death
- 2024-02-06
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- Germany (birth)
USA (naturalized) - Country (for map)
- USA
- Birthplace
- Todtmoos, Germany
- Place of death
- Astoria, Oregon, USA
- Cause of death
- suicide
- Places of residence
- Todtmoos, Germany
Stuttgart, West Germany
Portland, Oregon, USA
Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA
Astoria, Oregon, USA - Occupations
- Painter
Freelance Illustrator
Children's Book Author
Children's Book Illustrator - Short biography
- Petra Mathers is an American children's author and artist. She was born in 1945 in Todtmoos, Germany, and immigrated to the USA as a young woman. Mathers worked as a painter before becoming a children's book illustrator. One of her best-known creations is her series of picture-books devoted to the adventures of Lottie the chicken and her best friend, Herbie the duck. She is a four-time winner of The New York Times prize for Best Illustrated Children's Book, and was awarded the Ezra Jack Keats Medal for her first book, Maria Theresa. She lives in Astoria, Oregon. (source: Wikipedia)
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A Cake for Herbie by Petra Mathers
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Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 14
- Also by
- 15
- Members
- 935
- Popularity
- #27,474
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 39
- ISBNs
- 60
- Languages
- 2