Bring your children and grandchildren to Nesto Gallery this April and May to see how a famous children’s book artist, Tad Hills, develops his characters and plots. Artists who can help children with their emotional ups and downs in life are truly blessed and Hills is one of these gifted persons. His “Duck & Goose” books are read by children around the world. Hills’ solo exhibit at Milton Academy will provide his fans an opportunity to see how he develops his stories while also giving insight into the rest of his art production.
Hills, a graduate of Milton Academy, went on to study art at Skidmore College. From an early age, he was interested in storytelling, and by age nine, he had created illustrated story books with pencils, colored pens and a typewriter. His interest in birds and nature was fostered by his mother who worked for the Audubon Society and his trips to Maine. Hills’ “duck” and “goose” characters are simplified, humanized versions of real birds. As a farm-girl, I can testify that geese are big, nasty and aggressive birds who will attack little children and bite them with their bills. But a parent need not bring up that unfortunate fact to a small child when reading the happy tales of birds dancing, singing and hugging in Hills’ books.