Children’s Literature Assembly Art Auction at the 2023 NCTE Conference

By Peggy Rice representing the Ways and Means Committee

The Ways and Means Committee has worked with children’s picture book authors/illustrators to donate artwork to support the major goals of the Children’s Literature Assembly. CLA is committed to promoting high-quality children’s books in classrooms and supporting research focused on the importance of children’s literature. We want to thank the brilliant artists who donated work to this cause: Jade Orlando, Jon Klassen, Raissa Figueroa, Kaz Windress, Frane Lessac, and Nikkolas Smith, with more artwork coming each day! The auction will take place throughout the conference and will end during the CLA Breakfast on Sunday morning featuring Traci Sorell. ​

Ways and Means Committee

Raven Cromwell
Michelle Hasty
Ally Hauptman
Mary Lee Hahn
Rachelle Kuehl
Marion Rocco
Peggy Rice

Jon Klassen 
This talented Canadian animator, author and illustrator of children’s books, has illustrated several children’s books, most notably, his first children’s book that is both written and Illustrated by him.  I Want my Hat Back (2011) is the  winner of The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, The Caldecott Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Art for Auction: Jon has contributed a 5.5 x 7.5 in. monochromatic illustration from his latest publication, The Skull (2023) a retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. The eerie illustration includes the two main characters, the skull who lives in a big, abandoned house and a brave girl named, Otilla, who visits the house.

Raissa Figueroa
​This talented children’s book illustrator and graphic designer is based in San Diego California. She won the 2022 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for her contributions to We Wait for the Sun.

Art for Auction: Raissa has contributed an  8 x 10 inch expressionistic, watercolor illustration from Small-Girl Toni and the Quest for Gold (2023).  Written by Giselle Anatol and illustrated by Raissa, this  original tale was inspired by the life and works of Toni Morrison. Toni, as a young child, is featured in the illustration.

Kaz Windness
​This talented author and illustrator of picture books loves to make her readers laugh. Many of her books are animal fantasy with characters overcoming an internal conflict, such as finding the courage to face a fear.

Art for Auction: Kaz has contributed an 8 x 10 inch, matted, watercolor illustration from her most recent book that she wrote and illustrated, Bitsy Bat, School Star (2023).  The illustration depicts Bitsy, a little bat with big star dreams, struggling to fit in at her new school.

Nikkolas Smith 
This talented author and illustrator of children’s books, whose work is influenced by Nina Simone and Norman Rockwell, describes himself as an “artivist.” He illustrated the picture book, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water (2021) which was ranked number one on the New York Times Best Seller List Children’s Book category.

Art for Auction: Nikkolas has contributed a  9.5 x 11 inch illustration from Black Panther Wakanda Forever: The Courage to Dream (2022). Loose brushwork and mural-style images add energy that show Assata’s light, as she develops the courage to dream despite her disability.

Jade Orlando
This talented illustrator is a former children’s apparel artist. She has contributed colorful illustrations to several books for babies, such as Ally Baby Can be an Eco-Activist, Ally Baby Can be AntiRacist and Ally Baby Can be A Feminist.

Art for Auction: Jade  has contributed a 14 x 14 inch, expressionistic  illustration from I’m Going to Be a Princess (2023) written by Stephanie Taylor. The colorful illustration features, Maya, who is captivated by the achievements of a brave Nigerian princess.

Frane Lessac
​A noted author and illustrator of more than fifty books, Frane is an American living in Australia. She is inspired by her travels. Several of her books are informational books, such as Australian Baby Animals (2019) and Australia Under the Sea 1, 2, 3 (2020). Notably, she illustrated Traci Sorell’s books, We Are Grateful (2018) and We Are Still Here! (2021), each honored by the American Indian Library Association.

Art for Auction: Frane has contributed a 21.5 x 13.5 in. illustration from We Are Still Here (2022) written by Traci Sorell. The primitive folk art depicts a diverse group attending Indigenous People’s Day presentations at a Native Nations Community School.

Cori Doerrfeld 
This New York Times bestselling author and illustrator has illustrated numerous picture books for other authors, as well. Her debut picture book as an illustrator, Welcome to your World, Baby (2008) was written by Brooke Shields. Her colorful illustrations vary in style and include many animal friends.

Art for Auction: Cori has contributed an 11 x 14 watercolor, from Beneath (2023), a story that she wrote and illustrated. The insightful illustration conveys the theme, “There is always more under the surface than we can see.” It depicts  the trees’ roots, dirt and rocks under the ground, while Finn and their grandfather are hiking in the woods.   

She has also contributed a 5x7 original ink drawing of  two owls seen by Cori and his grandfather on their hike in the woods in Beneath (2023).

Camilla Sucre
This talented Caribbean American artist was born in New York and grew up in Baltimore. She is passionate about illustrating children’s books.

Art for Auction: Camilla has contributed a vibrant  9.5 x 15.5 illustration from Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush (Lawrence, 2023) that depicts Ava and her grandmother. The use of yellow contributes to the warmth of the intergenerational story that introduces the experiences of African Caribbeans who traveled across the Atlantic to build a life in England.

Peggy S. Rice is an associate professor in the Department of Elementary Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She is a member of the Ways and Means Committee for CLA.