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The official 2026 Children’s Book Week poster was created by Grace Lin, a visual and narrative storyteller of the highest calibre. Lauded by readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and the wider children’s book community, Lin’s work is magical and connective.
Want a copy of Grace’s stunning poster? Download below or sign up to participate in Children’s Book Week and receive two free copies mailed to you.
GRACE’S INSIGHT INTO THIS YEAR’S POSTER
Grace Lin said, “I’m so thrilled and honored to be the illustrator of this year’s Children’s Book Week poster. I remember in art school looking at some of the old posters by Trina Schart Hyman, Richard Scarry, Ezra Jack Keats . . . it’s humbling to think that I get to continue that tradition.”
“This year’s theme is Books: Get Curious. The good people at Every Child a Reader sent a couple of options, but ‘Get Curious’ immediately resonated,” said Lin. “I feel that kids need curiosity—interest in life, people, the world, and beyond—in order to flourish. But we are living in a time where there is a segment of the population that is trying to curtail that curiosity with book banning and unnecessary restrictions. Right now, curiosity, with all its joy and wonder, needs protection.”
“That’s why I decided to feature a Chinese stone lion in the poster. In Chinese culture, the lion is a protector, and the lion with cub (as shown here), in particular, is the guardian of a thriving future. The composition of the poster—the framing with the stacks of books on either side—is also a motif of protection, emulating the way many Asian people hang banners around doors at Lunar New Year. Those banners are placed around the entryways to ward off any bad luck as well as welcome in the good. In this image, the books not only make the entryway to curiosity but, like the lion, protect it.”
“Speaking of curiosity, I know people will want to know how I chose which book spines to use in the image. With the exception of Jane Mount’s Books Make Good Friends, I have to admit the book choices were fairly random. (Since Jane Mount is known for her bibliophile images of spines, I felt I needed to do a sort of shout-out to her as I was doing something similar. Hope you don’t mind, Jane Mount!) I learned when I did the 100-year anniversary of the Newbery cover for the Horn Book (which had the 100 Newbery book spines in the image) that finding pictures of spines is a challenge. The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader did not want me to leak anything ahead of time about the image, and I couldn’t do a callout on social media, so I just had to go through my shelves or ask author friends. A lot of it was based on what colors looked good. At one point, I sent an emergency message to friends begging them to send me images of pink or red spines!
“So you can see the featured books didn’t really have a theme—I wish I could have painted more! If you are an author and your book is not there, I’m so sorry!— except that every spine I painted was a book read and cherished by me or someone I know.
“I hope people like the poster; creating it was a delight. I hope that pleasure is passed on to all who view it. Many thanks to my publisher, Little, Brown and Co., for helping to facilitate the design and production, and to the CBC and Every Child a Reader for this lovely opportunity.
“Happy Reading and Happy Children’s Book Week!”
Video of Grace Painting the poster coming soon!
Locations across the country are invited to participate in Children’s Book Week, May 4-10. All participating locations will receive two free copies of Grace’s stunning poster.
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Grace Lin is the award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator of Chinese Menu, When the Sea Turned to Silver, Starry River of the Sky, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, The Year of the Dog, The Year of the Rat, Dumpling Days, and Ling & Ting, as well as picture books such as The Ugly Vegetables, A Big Bed for Little Snow, and A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Grace is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and lives in Massachusetts. Her website is www.gracelin.com.
Launched in 1919, Children’s Book Week will commemorate its 106th anniversary in 2025. It is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Email cbc.info@cbcbooks.org with questions.
Order your favorite Children’s Book Week posters as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more. All proceeds from the Every Child a Reader Store benefit our continued work with young readers across the country.
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