Childhood Favorites: 100 Years of Children’s Book Illustration Object Sponsorship
Children’s books have always had a dual purpose: first, they are created to educate and entertain young readers—to start them off on a lifetime of reading enrichment and enjoyment; second, they are historical touchstones, reflecting and visualizing the history and the values of the era in which they are written. This exhibition presents the illustrations and the illustrators that brought some of our most beloved stories and characters to life.
With over 140 original works from 62 artists and from 95 books, the exhibition explores the history of children’s books from the early twentieth-century pen and ink art of Beatrix Potter, to the most popular works of today including the digital creations of Mo Willems. The exhibition features the original art of Dr. Seuss, the iconic Wild Things of Maurice Sendak and the perennial heroism of Garth Williams’ Stuart Little. Among the many classic illustrators featured are Rosemary Wells, Richard Scarry, and Hilary Knight. Fondly remembered characters of literature include Babar, Eloise, Madeline, the Cat in the Hat and Dick & Jane. Extensive wall labels illuminate the works.
Become a part of this blockbuster exhibition by sponsoring an object in the show. Sponsors help us to cover the costs of mounting ambitious exhibitions like this and receive recognition with their object throughout the presentation of the exhibition.
Choose your favorite object to sponsor! Fill out the sponsorship form or contact Development Director Beth Smith for more information: esmith@wcmfa.org or 301-739-5727.
$1,000 Level
Laurent de Brunhoff (American, b. France, b. 1925)
Stirring the Chocolate, 1989
Babar Learns to Cook,
by Laurent de Brunhoff
Watercolor on paper
Sponsored by
Kevin Murray, M.D.
in honor of his parents,
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Murray
Hilary Knight (American, b. 1926)
Eloise Enters the Plaza, n.d.
Eloise series written by
actor/singer Kay Thompson (1909–98)
Watercolor and ink on paper
Theodor Seuss Geisel ‘Dr. Seuss’
(American, 1904–91)
The Cat in the Hat, c. 1970
Crayon on paper
Sponsored by
The Singer Society
Theodor Seuss Geisel ‘Dr. Seuss’
(American, 1904–91)
The Sneetches, c. 1970
Crayon on paper
Sponsored by
Tara Rumbarger, M.D. and
James Schiro, M.D.
Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2012)
Wild Thing I, n.d.
Graphite on paper
Sponsored by
Nora and Bruce Wilder
Gustaf Tenggren (Swiss, 1896–1970)
The Huntsman, 1937
Graphite on paper
Garth Williams (American, 1912–96)
Cover, 1952
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White
Limited edition lithograph
Sponsored by
Nora and Bruce Wilder
Garth Williams (American, 1912–96)
At the Filling Station, 1945
Stuart Little by E.B. White
Ink on paper
Sponsored by Jay Waltersdorf
Don Wood (American, b. 1945)
Today We Lunch in the Tub,1985
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub
by Audrey Wood (b. 1948)
Oil on board
$750 Level
Edward Frascino (American, b. 1930)
Catastrophe, 1970
Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (1899–1985)
Watercolor on paper
Anita Lobel (American, b. Polish 1934)
Letter L, 1981
On Market Street by Arnold Lobel
Ink and watercolor on paper
Hilary Knight (American, b. 1926)
Cover, Beauty and the Beast, 1963
Beauty and the Beast
by Marie Leprince de Beaumont (1711–76),
translated by Richard Howard (1929–2022)
Watercolor on board
John Bemelmans Marciano (American, b. 1970)
Paris at Night, 1999
Madeline in America and Other Holiday Tales
by Ludwig Bemelmans (1898–1962)
Acrylic on paper
Gerald McDermott (1941-2012)
The Raven, 1993
The Raven by Gerald McDermott
Acrylic on board
Sponsored by Tara Rumbarger, M.D.
and James Schiro, M.D.
Gerald McDermott (1941-2012)
Leopard Rolling, 1992
Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa Gerald McDermott
Acrylic on board
David Shannon (American, b. 1959)
Cookie Jar, 1988
No, David! by David Shannon
Acrylic on board
Marc Simont (American, b. France, 1915–2013)
Cover for In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, 1984, by Betty Bao Lord (b. 1938)
Watercolor and ink on board
Rosemary Wells (American, b. 1943)
Four Faces of Max, n.d.
Ink and watercolor on paper
$500 Level
Joan Walsh Anglund (American, 1926–2021)
I Hope in Thy Word, 2000
Watercolor and ink on paper
Felicia Bond (American, b. Japan, b. 1954)
Off For A Run, n.d.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series
by Laura Numeroff
Ink and watercolor on paper
Joe Cepeda (American, b. 1970)
Eight Complete Circle, 1997
Acrylic on paper
Sarah Noble Ives (American, 1864–1944)
Bow Wow Wow, Old Woman, Old Woman, and Through the Ice, c. 1910–15
Watercolor on board
Sponsored by
Stephen Eddy and Kristan Eddy
Floyd Cooper (American, 1956–2021)
Face to Face, 1991
When Africa Was Home by Karen Lynn Williams
Oil on illustration board
Floyd Cooper (American, 1956–2021)
Into the Basket, 2004
Oil on Illustrated Board
Campbell Grant (American, 1909–92)
On the Run, 1948
Walt Disney’s Pinocchio: A Little Golden Book
Graphite on Paper
Sponsored by
Eleanor Lankin
Arnold Lobel (American, 1933-87)
On the Balcony, 1985
Whiskers & Rhymes by Arnold Lobel
Watercolor on paper
Arnold Lobel (American, 1933-87)
Study in Black and White, c. 1970
Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel
Graphite on vellum
Sponsored by
Nanette Stevens
and Karl J. Keller
Alice Provensen (American, 1918–2018) and
Martin Provensen, (American, 1916-87)
Circus Parade, 1950
Collage on board
Ted Rand (American, 1915–2005)
Sarah Carefully Carried the Cake, 1994
Watercolor on paper
Richard Scarry (American, 1919-94)
The Puppy Sleeps, 1949
Mouse’s House by Kathryn Jackson
Gouache on board
Sponsored by
Kathy and Bruce Poole
Mo Willems (American b. 1968)
I’ll Give You Five Dollars, 2003
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Giclee print on paper
Garth Williams (American, 1912–96)
Cover Study, 1971
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Graphite on paper
Sponsored by Chuck Zang
