January 20th featured speaker

Carol Sanborn doing what she loves! 

2020 Caldecott Medal winner Hello Lighthouse

by Sophie Blackall

2010 Caldecott Medal winner The Lion & the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

Children's Book Illustrators:

Their World and Work

We travel to museums and galleries to enjoy beautiful artwork.  But have you thought about opening up a children’s picture book?  There, you will enter a whole other world of artistic expression. There, you will discover the artwork of children’s picture book illustrators. Remember the beloved picture books you read as a child and those you now love reading to your children and/or grandchildren?  Explore the world and work of a number of illustrators in this presentation.  Who are some of these artists? What are their backgrounds?  How did they develop their love of book illustration?  What inspired them?The presentation will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Rye Congregational Church, 580 Washington Road in Rye, New Hampshire, and is free to all. 

One way to further explore children’s picture book illustrators is by looking up, reading, and reviewing the Caldecott Medal Award.  This award, begun in 1937, is given each year to the artist chosen for their American children’s picture book.  Honor books are also chosen.  The award is named after Ralph Caldecott, an English illustrator in the nineteenth century.  The award is given by a division of the American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC).  Some examples of Caldecott Award winners are, Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey in 1942, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg in 1986, Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky in 1998, and The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney in 2010. 

Carol Sanborn worked at the University of New Hampshire for twenty-three years in a number of different positions.  When she was ready for a career change, she was fortunate to be offered the position of Head of Youth Services and Assistant Director at the Hampton Falls Free Library. She then pursued and took advantage of the opportunity to sit in on a course in Children’s Literature.  In this course she was introduced to the world of children’s picture book illustrators and developed a deep appreciation of their artwork.  She delighted in sharing this with the children and their families at the Library.  She also took great joy when the children would point out something in an illustration she missed!

Carol conducted a wide variety of programs for youth of all ages during her seventeen years at the Library.  She also enjoyed teaching creative workshops for adults.  In 2010 she was awarded “Children’s Librarian of the Year” by the Children’s Librarians of New Hampshire “for contributions significantly enriching library services to youth in New Hampshire”.  After taking the Children’s Librarians course in puppetry, she began a side business, “Carol and Crew” Puppet shows.  She enjoys basket making, rug hooking, knitting, needle felting, beadwork and weaving as well a wide variety of athletic endeavors.