News Release

Central High School NHS to partner with Children's Book Week 2024 Literary Celebration

Date: May 3, 2024
Contact: Brian Schwieger, 501-374-1957

Children’s Book Week 2024

 “Create and Tell Your Story”

Special guest illustrator and author

Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Thursday, May 9, 2024

(Little Rock) Vanessa Brantley-Newton, a two-time New York Times bestselling illustrator and author, will make a special guest appearance in Little Rock, AR for Children's Book Week on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm CST. The event will take place at the Sue Cowan Williams Library – Central Arkansas Library System (cals.org) located at 1800 S. Chester Street, Little Rock, AR 72204.

The theme for Children's Book Week 2024 is "Create and Tell Your Story” which aims to inspire young girls to embrace creativity, storytelling, and self-discovery through various forms of art.

"You can't be what you can't see” - Dr. Marian Wright-Edelman

Vanessa was born during the Civil Rights movement and attended school in Newark, NJ. Being part of a diverse, tight-knit community during such turbulent times, Vanessa learned the importance of acceptance and empowerment in shaping a young person’s life.

When she read Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, it was the first time she saw herself in a children’s book. It was a defining moment in her life and has made her into the artist she is today. As an illustrator, she includes children of all ethnic backgrounds in her stories and artwork. She wants all children to see their unique experiences reflected in the books they read so they can feel the same sense of empowerment and recognition she experienced as a young reader.

Vanessa celebrates self-love and acceptance of all cultures through her work and hopes to inspire young readers to find their own voices. She first learned to express herself as a little girl through song. Growing up in a musical family, Vanessa’s parents taught her how to sing to help overcome her stuttering. Each night, the family would gather to make music together with her mom on piano, her dad on guitar, and Vanessa and her sister, Coy, singing the blues, gospel, spirituals, and jazz. Now whenever she illustrates, music fills the air and finds its way into her art.

The children she draws can be seen dancing, wiggling, and moving freely across the page in an expression of happiness. Music is a constant celebration, no matter the occasion, and Vanessa hopes her illustrations bring joy to others with the same magic of a beautiful melody.

The event is free and open to the public.

RSVP and inquiries [e-mail] and [phone]