Petra Mathers

Petra Mathers was born in Todtmoos, Germany. She immigrated to the United States as a young woman. She worked as a painter, and has illustrated the books of other authors as well as her own. In 1985 she was awarded the Ezra Jack Keats Medal for her first book, Maria Theresa. Four of her books have won the New York Times prize for Best Illustrated Children's Book.