©DON TATE ILLUSTRATION

I was first inspired by my Aunt Eleanora Tate to illustrate childrens picture books. Eleanora E. Tate is an author of many novels and short stories for young adults. I decided at a young age that I wanted to use my drawings to tell stories to children, as she did with words. Ron's Big Mission A fictionalized account of a childhood experience of astronaut Ron McNair She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story The story of Negro League team owner, Effa Manley, first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I Am My Grandpa's Enkelin An original tale, told by a grandma, looking back in loving memory at all that her German-American grandma taught her. Sure As Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit and his Walkin' Talkin' Friends Retold by Alice McGill Black All Around! Celebrate this beautiful color by discovering the many things in our world that are black. Say Hey! A Song of Willie Mays Over the years, I collected books by Brian and Andrea Pinkney for my children. I was too thrilled to work with Andrea Pinkney, editor for "Say Hey!" The Legend of the Valentine I am a strong believer that my talents are a gift from GOD. This project allowed me to use my talents while teaching children a Christian principle. Those opportunities don't come along often. Summer Sun Risin' I am originally from Des Moines, Iowa. So when I was asked to illustrate a book set on a farm, I visualized white picket fences, lush, green cornfields, and freshly-painted red barn houses. But I live in Texas now. So I used my new Texas home as a backdrop. Rustic farmhouses, cactuses and cowboy hats. The Jump at the Sun Treasury An African American Picture Book Collection When I was a child, I remember reading Mother Goose books. I enjoyed reading about Georgie Porgie and Old Mother Hubbard. But noticeably none of those characters had my skin color. For my children's sake, I am thankful times have changed. The Hidden Feast Rooster teaches readers a lesson about patience. ZOOM: A Book of Things That Go My first novelty popup book, featuring cars, trucks, planes, trains and more. Projects in the works