The Annual Children’s Book Art Silent Auction and Reception has been a highlight of children’s programming at BookExpo America for the last 19 years. This event offers a unique opportunity to buy beautiful, original art in children’s literature from leading, award-winning artists and illustrators of children’s books and a chance to socialize with friends from around the country, while supporting the all-important efforts opposing the censorship of children’s books and authors nationwide. This is a highly anticipated and fun event on the industry’s social calendar, and the only annual event where the entire children’s book industry is in the same room, including booksellers, publishers, authors, artists, illustrators, other industry professionals, and fans of illustrated children’s books and supporters of the free speech rights of young readers.
This year there is a special tribute to Maurice Sendak. His book In the Night Kitchen was challenged and banned by many libraries. As many of you know, Sandak died this past year. It was a great loss for the children's book community. The auction will have a section of tribute art in his honor. I hoped to convey his peaceful departure with my piece. A line from his book Where the Wild Things Are stuck in my mind at the time of his death. "Oh please don't go - we'll eat you up - we love you so!"
This is my tribute. I worry that it is more like a copy than my own interpretation, but I have looked at this book so many times throughout my life that when I picked up my pencils and paintbrush to begin, this is just what came out. I hope my contribution will help with the fight against book censorship.
