Award-winning illustrator and author Christian Robinson creates children’s book illustrations in a cut-paper collage style. (My favorite!) Inspired by illustration and graphic art from the 1950s and 60s, he utilizes paint and collage to conjure charming characters that highlight inclusivity and diverse stories.
One of his most popular—and lauded books—is Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Peña. In the story, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town after church. One day, CJ notices how his life is different from others; they don’t own a car like his friend, and the other boys on the bus have iPods. Each time CJ asks his grandma about it, she answers in a way that helps him to see the “beauty and fun in their routine and the world around them.” The book was the winner of a 2016 Newbery Medal, a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book (the Caldecott was always a big deal in my house growing up), and Christian also received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor.
“I can say that my favorite part of illustrating any book I work on is designing the jacket, bookcase, and end pages,” Christian tells Book Riot. “There’s such an opportunity to set the scene and invite readers into the world of the story. It’s the most challenging but also the most rewarding part, because it is what gives readers a first impression, as we all know we totally judge books by their covers.”
See what Christian working on next —his newest book, You Matter, was released today—when you follow him on Instagram.
From “Last Stop on Market Street”
From “Last Stop on Market Street”
From “Last Stop on Market Street”
From “You Matter”
From “You Matter”
From “Rain!”
From “Rain!”
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