{"id":16788,"date":"2017-11-02T00:01:45","date_gmt":"2017-11-02T04:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=16788"},"modified":"2017-11-01T15:12:18","modified_gmt":"2017-11-01T19:12:18","slug":"road-trip-childrens-book-art-libraries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2017\/11\/road-trip-childrens-book-art-libraries\/","title":{"rendered":"Road Trip! Children’s Book Art in Libraries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Happy Picture Book Month to all!\u00a0When I recently received an email from Sarah Johnson (thanks, Sarah!) about Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie<\/em> children’s library card at\u00a0Forbes Library in Northampton, Mass., it got me thinking. I bet there are lots of instances of children’s book art adorning library spaces all over the country. One well-placed query on the ALSC-L electronic discussion list and my guess was confirmed! I\u00a0\u00a0received some great examples of illustrators working with libraries, and children\u2019s spaces decked out with fun, bright, inspiring illustrations straight out of the pages of beloved picture books and the imaginations of the artists. Join me on this virtual road trip to discover children’s book art in libraries.<\/p>\n

Bring on the Art!<\/h2>\n

Check out these libraries and the wonderful gems they showcase!<\/p>\n

\"Display
Photos courtesy of Brooks Memorial Library<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, Vermont<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Brooks Memorial Library exhibits original art from children\u2019s picture books in their children\u2019s book illustrator exhibition cases. The displays demonstrate to library visitors the many steps involved in creating a children\u2019s book.<\/p>\n

The current exhibit features the work of Astrid Sheckels and shows the process for revising both text and illustrations. It even includes little sculptures the artist created of the characters from modeling clay so she could view them in 3D while drawing them from different angles.<\/p>\n

\"Chato<\/p>\n

Children’s Resource Center Library, New Orleans, Louisiana<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Children’s Resource Center features two murals by illustrator Susan Guevara, depicting characters from her book Chato and the Party Animals<\/em>. The murals were created in 2006, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, as a gift to the library. They portray a mix of literary and musical icons and the resilient spirit of New Orleans.<\/p>\n

The title of the murals comes from a Mexican adage: “Tambien de dolor se canta cuando llorar no se puede.” Translated, it means, “Sorrow also sings when it runs too deep to cry.”<\/p>\n

Photo credit: Linda Gielec, Children’s Resource Center Library<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Library
Photo courtesy of\u00a0DeKalb County Public Library<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeKalb County sold a Pete the Cat library card as part of a fundraiser for the Library Foundation in 2012. (Some cards are still in use today!) Along with the limited-edition “Be a Cool Cat” collector card, shirts, magnets, posters, and water bottles displaying the card logo were also available.\u00a0Local resident and Pete the Cat<\/em> creator James Dean appeared at the library to help launch the card campaign.<\/p>\n

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\"FramedEast Baton Rouge Parish Library, Baton Rouge, Louisiana<\/strong><\/p>\n

The children’s room (far left) at East Baton Rouge Parish Library hosts a collection of framed art by children\u2019s book illustrators and from children’s literature.\u00a0At left is framed artwork from Mr. Ferlinghetti’s Poem<\/em> by David Frampton.<\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of Children’s Services East Baton Rouge Parish Library<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Farmington<\/p>\n

Farmington (Michigan) Community Library<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wong Herbert Yee provided the Farmington Library with his original graphics from Fireman Small<\/em> for the library\u2019s 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program materials, including a brochure, reading log, and flyer. Yee is a local Troy, Michigan resident.<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Farmington Community Library (Michigan). Used with permission.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Mo<\/p>\n

Forbes Library, Northhampton, Massachusetts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recently, the Forbes Library teamed up with award-winning local author\/illustrator Mo Willems to create a new Elephant and Piggie children’s library card!<\/p>\n

Photo credit: Lisa Downing<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"HumptyKalamazoo (Michigan) Public Library<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to a grant from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation in 1990, Kalamazoo Public Library commissioned several artists to create original artwork that transformed their Children\u2019s Room. Local author\/illustrator David Small painted a pillar with nursery rhyme characters; a detail of it is at left. The artists provided striking pieces from stained glass to soft sculpture, and framed artwork graces the walls throughout the Children\u2019s Room. Check out the online gallery<\/a> of KPL’s Children\u2019s Room art.<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Kalamazoo Public Library. Used with permission.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"IllustrationsLive Oak Public Libraries, Savannah, Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each year Savannah hosts a Children\u2019s Book Festival. The year\u2019s featured authors and illustrators are asked to sign and\/or draw right on the walls of the main library on Bull Street! The photo at left displays work by Marc Brown, Jim McMullan, David Ezra Stein, and Michael P. White, among others. The mission of the Savannah Children\u2019s Book Festival is to inspire the next generation of authors and illustrators. A poster contest and a young writers contest are also held in conjunction with the festival. Contest submissions and photos<\/a> are on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Live Oak Public Libraries. Used with permission.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Book<\/p>\n

Louisville Free Public Library, Louisville, Kentucky<\/strong><\/p>\n

The children\u2019s bookmobile at Louisville Free Public Library boasts artwork from Eric Carle\u2019s book,\u00a0The Very Hungry Caterpillar.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photo credit:\u00a0Lucia Duncan<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"MuralCharles Santore Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Charles Santore Library in South Philadelphia is named after Charles Santore, Sr., a local politician and father of illustrator Charles Santore. The library features artwork by the latter, from the poppy scene of The Wizard of Oz<\/em> and Vain Jackdaw from Aesop\u2019s Fables<\/em>. The murals are fabric mounted to the walls of a small outdoor patio off the children’s room.<\/p>\n

Photo credit: Jeanne Hamann, library supervisor, Charles Santore Library<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Ashley<\/p>\n

Warrensville Heights Branch, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Ohio<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Warrensville Heights Branch highlights numerous art pieces based on Ashley Bryan’s work (Let It Shine) <\/em>on the walls, as well as play space pieces and overhead installations.<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library<\/em><\/p>\n

\"HA<\/p>\n

Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham, New Hampshire<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wiggin Memorial Library features a large drawing by H.A. Rey, Curious George<\/em> illustrator. Rey created it during a visit to\u00a0the library on September 27,<\/span>\u00a01966.<\/p>\n

Photo credit: Sam Lucius, Wiggin Memorial Library<\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/h2>\n

<\/h2>\n

Share Your Favorites<\/h2>\n

What children’s book art have you run across in your library work and visits? Please share with us in the comments section below.<\/p>\n

Thank You!<\/h2>\n

Many thanks to the following ALSC-L subscribers and librarians who contacted me with their photos, leads, and stories.\u00a0My sincere apologies if I missed anyone. I followed up all leads but did not hear back from a couple libraries in time.<\/p>\n

Melanie Allbery
\nPabby Arnold
\nPrudence Baird
\nStephanie Bange
\nBetsy Bird
\nBlair Christolon
\nPatricia Dollisch
\nJanet Florence
\nKaren Franklin
\nLinda Gielec
\nDani Gustavich
\nJeanne Hamann
\nSarah Johnson
\nStarr Latronica
\nSam Lucius
\nKaren MacPherson
\nLaurie Scott
\nKate Schiavi
\nJoAnna Schofield
\nSarah Stippich
\nSusan Warner
\nKitty Wilson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Happy Picture Book Month to all!\u00a0When I recently received an email from Sarah Johnson (thanks, Sarah!) about Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie children’s library card at\u00a0Forbes Library in Northampton, Mass., it got me thinking. I bet there are lots of instances of children’s book art adorning library spaces all over the country. One well-placed query on the ALSC-L electronic discussion list and my guess was confirmed! I\u00a0\u00a0received some great examples of illustrators working with libraries, and children\u2019s spaces decked out with fun, bright, inspiring illustrations straight out of the pages of beloved picture books and the imaginations of the artists. Join me on this virtual road trip to discover children’s book art in libraries. Bring on the Art! Check out these libraries and the wonderful gems they showcase! Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, Vermont The Brooks Memorial Library exhibits original art from children\u2019s picture books in their children\u2019s book illustrator exhibition…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":282,"featured_media":16807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1208,22],"tags":[1380],"class_list":["post-16788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogger-laura-schulte-cooper","category-childrens-literature","tag-childrens-book-art"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/282"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16788"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16788\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}