This week, we continue to highlight the gorgeous artwork from our Art of Read Every Day project. Comprised of 13 illustrations, the collection celebrates the joy and importance of reading, as seen through the eyes of some of our favorite children's book illustrators.
I've been counting down the days until it was time to highlight Kadir Nelson's work. Nelson is an award-winning American artist whose works have been exhibited in major national and international publications, institutions, art galleries, and museums. He is a New York Times bestseller, a two-time Caldecott Honoree, and a Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner.
His illustration for this project depicts a boy seated against a sky-blue background with an oversized book open in his lap. The book radiates light that surrounds and encapsulates his body in a soft, steadfast glow. "The idea is that the light of his mind is being brightened, illuminated by what he's reading," says Nelson, "by this great story."
You can download this special piece of art for free at our Art of Read Every Day website. You'll also find a collection of companion resources to pair with it, including:
- A video interview of Kadir Nelson, where he discusses the inspiration behind his work ("my art is inspired mainly by great stories," he says).
- A video of Nelson reading aloud from Testing the Ice.
- Common Core-ready discussion guides for grades K- and 3-5.
I hope you enjoy these resources as much as I do. Keep and eye on our social media channels this week—we'll be highlighting each resource as the week progresses!
Original artwork by Kadir Nelson
