Children’s book illustrator Christian Robinson has designed the official poster for the 98th Children’s Book Week, which will take place this year May 1 to 7. The artwork was made public today by Every Child a Reader, the charitable organization supported by the Children’s Book Council that runs the annual week-long national literacy initiative.
Robinson’s illustrations for the 2017 Newbery-winning picture book Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and a Caldecott Honor. And one of his first books, Rain! by Linda Ashman earned him the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award. For the poster, Robinson’s image—a child pulling a volume from a colorful bookshelf that also includes a globe, a sailboat, and a zebra toy—is accompanied by this year’s CBW thematic slogan: “One World, Many Stories.” The poster will be distributed to those who attend official Book Week events nationwide.
Shaina Birkhead, programming and strategic partnerships director for CBC and Every Child a Reader, offered comment on Robinson’s selection for this project. “The Children’s Book Week poster is the visual centerpiece of our yearly celebration,” she said. “Locations across the country use it, and the message it embodies, to shape their events, displays, story times, and more. Christian Robinson’s playful and distinctive style made him the perfect choice to create this poster. His body of work already exemplifies this year’s slogan, ‘One World, Many Stories,’ and we knew he would bring this message to life.”
In addition to revealing the poster, Every Child a Reader has announced that registration to become an official CBW location is now open online. The organization hopes to sign up 500 schools, libraries, and bookstores across all 50 states to host dedicated story times, author illustrator events, and activities. The official host sites are also encouraged to promote and provide time for young readers to vote for the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards, also sponsored by Every Child a Reader. Official event-hosting sites receive not only Robinson’s CBW poster, but access to other downloadable materials including bookmarks featuring art by four prominent illustrators and an original Every Child a Reader graphic novel. Host locations will also be part of a national publicity campaign and book donation effort. The deadline for event sign-up is March 1.
