Thomas Gonzalez

Georgia Connections

• Atlanta, Fulton County

Notes of Interest

Thomas Gonzalez is an award-winning illustrator and artist whose first picture book is "14 Cows for America," a project with author Carmen Deedy, like him, a native of Cuba. In 2010, the book was chosen for inclusion on the inaugural list of "25 Books All Young Georgians Should Read by the Georgia Center for the Book.

Thomas Gonzalez was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1959. The oldest of four children, he came to the United States in 1970 and has made his home in Atlanta since then. He is a graduate of the Atlanta College of Art (now Savannah College of Art and Design). He worked in design and art direction and became a Despign Principal and Creative Development Manager at the Coca-Cola Company, where he worked for more than 20 years.

Gonzalez is now a freelance art director and illustrator focusing on children's books. "!4 Cows for America" made several national bestseller lists. The New York Times called it "a lovely book" and hailed Gonzalez' illustrations as "beautifully evocative." The Wall Street Journal called it a "moving and dramatically illustrated picture book." He has a second project with Carmen Deedy in preparation.

Further Reading

Thomas Gonzalez' Web Page