The Cotsen Children’s Library was delighted to host a Zoom panel discussion with the five talented artists who illustrated Toni & Slade Morrison's children's books: Joe Cepeda (The Tortoise or the Hare and Peeny Butter Fudge); Pascal Lemaître (The Book of Mean People and the three books in the Who's Got Game? series: The Ant or the Grasshopper, The Lion or the Mouse, and Poppy or the Snake); Giselle Potter (The Big Box); Sean Qualls (Little Cloud and Lady Wind); and Shadra Strickland (Please, Louise). Dr. Dana's co-host was Dr. Jennifer Garcon, Princeton University Librarian for Modern and Contemporary Special Collections, which includes the extensive and highly researched Toni Morrison Papers.
In their children's books, the Morrisons address themes such as individualism, independence of thought, family connection, freedom, imagination, and empowerment of the self. Each book is beautifully, distinctly, and uniquely illustrated by the talented individuals who joined us for the incredibly insightful interview.