Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Advertise
    • Mentorship
    • Editing Services
    • About
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest TikTok
    The Children's Book Review
    Subscribe
    • Books by Subject
    • Books by Age
      • Ages 0-3, Infant and Toddler
      • Ages 4-8, Preschool to Elementary
      • Ages 9-12, Preteen and Tween
      • Ages 12+, Teen and Young Adult
      • Books for First Grade Readers
      • Books for Second Grade Readers
      • Books for Third Grade Readers
    • Favorites
      • Diverse and Inclusive Books
      • Books About Activism
      • Best Books for Kids
      • Star Wars Books
      • Board Books
      • Books About Mindfulness
      • Dr. Seuss Books
    • Showcase
    • Interviews
      • Growing Readers Podcast
      • Author Interviews and Q&A
      • Illustrator Interviews
    • Kids’ Book Giveaways
    • Directory
    • Podcast
    The Children's Book Review

    Matt Tavares, Author-Illustrator of Red & Lulu | Selfie and a Shelfie

    Guest PostsBy Guest Posts4 Mins Read Ages 0-3 Ages 4-8 Best Kids Stories Picture Books Seasonal: Holiday Books
    Text
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The Children’s Book Review | December 7, 2017

    Matt Tavares’s Selfie with Red & Lulu

    Here’s my selfie. It’s me in my studio with a copy of Red & Lulu, which tells the story of a pair of cardinals who live happily in a big, beautiful evergreen until one day, when their tree is chopped down and taken away, causing Red and Lulu to become separated. It’s a love story, a Christmas story, and a story about what happens when your world turns upside down unexpectedly and you need to focus on what’s really important.

    Matt-Tavares

    As you can tell from this picture, there are a lot of bookshelves in my studio. The original owners of this house referred to this room as “the library”, a fitting place for me to spend my days making books! It’s on the back corner of the house. The two exterior walls have walls nice big windows, so there’s great light for drawing and painting, and the other two walls are covered with great built-in bookshelves. For the bookshelves you see in this picture, the ones right behind my drawing table, I have the top shelf divided into 4 sections, where I store research materials for the 4 books I’m working on. The second shelf is for art supplies for my current project, including pencils, extra paint brushes, reference photos, paper towels, etc. And the bottom three shelves are filled with books.

    Matt Tavares’s Shelfie

    Matt-TavaresPIctureBookWall

    This is my picture book wall, the only bookshelf that I added to my studio (the others were all here when we moved in), and one of my favorite thing about my studio. I stole this idea from my friend, author-illustrator Scott Magoon, who has an awesome picture book wall in his studio. I use this space as a rotating display of some of my favorite books, for inspiration as I’m working. Occasionally I’ll put one of my books up there. It’s fun to see Red & Lulu surrounded by some of my favorite books.

    —
    Red & Lulu by Matt TravaresRed & Lulu

    Written and Illustrated by Matt Tavares

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Separation and miles cannot keep a determined cardinal from his loved one in an ode to serendipity and belief that is destined to be a new Christmas classic.

    Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. It shades them in the hot months and keeps them cozy in the cold months, and once a year the people who live nearby string lights on their tree and sing a special song: O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. But one day, something unthinkable happens, and Red and Lulu are separated. It will take a miracle for them to find each other again. Luckily, it’s just the season for miracles. . . . From Matt Tavares comes a heart-tugging story combining the cheer of Christmas, the magic of New York City, and the real meaning of the holiday season: how important it is to be surrounded by love.

    Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Candlewick | 2017 | ISBN-13: 9780763677336

    Available Here: 
    Text, logoBuy on AmazonLogo

    About the Author-Illustrator

    Matt Tavares created his first picture book as his senior thesis project at Bates College. That book, Zachary’s Ball, was eventually published by Candlewick Press and went on to be named one of Yankee Magazine’s 40 Classic New England Children’s Books.

    Since then, Matt has published eighteen more books and has won several awards, including three Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, an Orbis Pictus Honor, and two ALA Notable books. His artwork has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration, the Brandywine River Museum, The Eric Carle Museum, and the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art.When Matt’s not working in his studio on his latest book project, he travels the country speaking and drawing at schools, libraries, conferences, and bookstores. He has presented at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the White House Easter Egg Roll, and he’s even done a few book signings at Fenway Park.

    Matt lives in Maine with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters.

    For more information, visit: http://matttavares.com

    Discover more books like “Red & Lulu,” by Matt Tavares, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Aliens, Health, Illness, and Picture Books; and be sure to follow along with our Selfie and a Shelfie series.

    What to Read Next:

    1. 7 Kids’ Christmas Books That Will Bring Joy to Your World
    2. Construction Site on Christmas Night, by Sherri Duskey Rinker | Book Review
    3. 16 of the Best Christmas Books for Kids
    4. Who Loves the Dragon? by Bianca Schulze | Book Spotlight

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Birds Books Set in New York Christmas Christmas Spirit Christmas Tree Books Love Matt Tavares Picture Book Selfie and a Shelfie
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleBest Selling Young Adult Books | December 2017
    Next Article Best Selling Kids Books Series | December 2017
    Guest Posts
    • Website

    The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by a guest author.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    TCBR Supporter
    Recent Articles
    • Timmy the Gifted Bunny, by Daniel Stabler | Dedicated Review
    • Squid in Pants, By Kaz Windness | Book Review
    • The Rejection Collection: Allie Millington’s Journey to Publishing ‘When You Find a Hope’
    • Armando and the Amazing Animal Race | Dedicated Review
    • Armando and the Amazing Animal Race | Awareness Tour
    TCBR Supporters
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today

    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    sponsored | become a TCBR supporter today
    Discover Kids Books by Age
    Best Books For Kids
    Media Kit: The Children's Book Review
    Author and Illustrator Showcase
    SEARCH
    BOOKS BY SUBJECT
    Archives
    Professional Resources

    Book Marketing Campaigns

    Writing Coaches and Editing Services

    Mentorship

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Policies
    • Advertise
    • TCBR Buzzworthy Mentions
    • About TCBR
    © 2025 The Children’s Book Review. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.