My Artistic Inspiration: Children’s Books

It all started when I was a child. My father would read from illustrated books while I followed along. There were many classics: The Little Match Girl, The Polar Express, and The Cat in the Hat- to name a few. But three captured my interest in illustration.

The first I remembered was a book called Jazz Cats, written by David Davis and illustrated by Chuck Galey. It was my father’s favorite because of his background playing the trombone and steel drums in the US Navy Band. It was my favorite because of the expressive and colorful illustrations.

Jazz Cats book cover

The second is The Jade Necklace, written by Paul Yee and illustrated by Grace Lin. The story follows a Chinese immigrant girl, Yenyee, who immigrates to Canada after her father, a fisherman, is lost at sea. The emotional yet simplistic nature of the illustrations drew me in as a child.

The Jade Necklace book cover

The Jade Necklace interior illustration

The final is Chinese Children's Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales, written and illustrated by Mingmei Yip. It was my introduction to my favorite aspect of all cultures: mythology. My favorite is the story of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess. The book's charming, traditional, and vibrant illustrations captured my interest. 

Chinese Children's Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales book cover