Who: Tad Hills, 52, writer and illustrator
Tad Hills began his journey as a writer and illustrator for children's books 20 years ago, illustrating picture books for Simon & Schuster's children's book division.
Since then, the father of two has released the successful Duck & Goose series, with the first book Duck & Goose being a New York Times bestseller and American Library Association Notable Book for Children in 2006. He is also the author of the bestselling How Rocket Learned To Read and its sequel, Rocket Writes A Story.
What are you reading right now?
I am reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. My family and I recently saw Hamilton, the musical, on Broadway and we have become a bit obsessed by the man who was one of the founding fathers of the United States.
The play has taken Broadway by storm. I think it will ignite interest in American history among a new generation.
What books would you save from a burning house?
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I have such strong memories not only of these stories and the beautiful, powerful writing but, also of my experience reading these books.
Another book that I would save is one that I gave to my wife on the first Valentine's Day after we were married.
It is a collection of very simple poems that I wrote, then bound using antique ceiling tin salvaged from a New York City building demolition site.
- Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2005, Penguin Books, S$18.36), Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (2000, Vintage, S$19.05) and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (2013, Fourth Estate, S$20.85) are available at amazon.com
