Matt de la Peña American writer Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matt-de-la-Pena Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matt-de-la-Pena Also known as: Matthew de la Peña Written by Joan Hibler Joan Hibler is a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. Joan Hibler Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jul 23, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Born: February 9, 1974?, San Diego county, California, U.S. (Show more) Matt de la Peña (born February 9, 1974?, San Diego county, California, U.S.) is an American author who writes novels for young adults and picture books for young children. His books often include characters of racial and economic diversity. De la Peña was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2016 for his second picture book, Last Stop on Market Street (2015). De la Peña was born between the years 1973 and 1975 to teenage parents. He grew up in a working-class mixed-race family: his father is a first-generation American whose grandparents illegally immigrated to the United States from Mexico, and his ...(100 of 641 words)

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