Library’s ‘Young at Art’ highlights Caldecott winners

Washington-Centerville Public Library hosts the exhibit “Young at Art: A Selection of Caldecott Book Illustrations” at Woodbourne Library, 6060 Far Hills Ave., Centerville, through Jan. 19. Admission is free.

Through picture books, readers embark on visual journeys that engage all of the senses and encourage curious, imaginative and thoughtful interactions with the world around them.

Since 1938, the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, has recognized the significant impact of art on early reading experiences, awarding the Caldecott Medal for excellence in this area.

Named in honor of 19th-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the prestigious and highly coveted medal is awarded annually to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

This exhibition of works from Wichita Falls Museum of Art’s permanent collection celebrates the vision and talent of 28 award-winning artists, including the first Caldecott Award recipient, Dorothy P. Lathrop (1938); two-time winner Chris Van Allsburg (1982, 1986); and Maurice Sendak (1964), whose work “Where the Wild Things Are,” like Van Allsburg’s “Jumanji” and “The Polar Express,” was adapted for the big screen.

These illustrations are widely recognized not only as artistic classics in children’s literature, but also as the source of countless beloved memories for the young and young at heart.

This exhibition is toured by ExhibitsUSA, a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. For more about ExhibitsUSA, visit www.eusa.org.