This month CSLF is recognizing the multi-award-winning artist and children’s book illustrator Rafael López. Among Rafael’s many awards are multiple Pura Belpré Medals for Illustration in 2020 for Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln, written by Margarita Engle; in 2016 for Drum Dream Girl was also written by Engle, and in 2010 for Book Fiesta by Pat Mora. He has also received three Pura Belpré honors, two Américas Book Awards, in 2017 the Tomás Rivera Children’s Book Award and Society of Illustrators Original Art Silver Medal, and a Schneider Family Book Award in 2020 for Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, written by Sonia Sotomayor.
Rafael is the founder of San Diego’s Urban Art Trail movement has created seven US Postal Stamps and has created official posters for the ‘08 and ‘12 Obama-Biden campaigns. He has also has been part of CTA's Read Across America campaign, and his artwork was an integral part of the packet that went to all schools.
Rafael was born and raised in Mexico City, by his architect parents who were obsessed with books. They would spend their weekends taking adventures to search second-hand bookshops and flea markets to find books others had left behind. At an early age, Rafael was connected to stories and drawing. His illustrations reflect the rich visual heritage, music, and surrealism of his native culture. Color is an integral part of his art, and he learned to speak the language of color at an early age. The use of color and texture helps him express his identity and heritage, and he has learned that color is the most direct route for children to connect emotionally with the books he has illustrated.
Through his connections with young people, Rafael is
convinced that words and images have the power to make a change. He believes
strongly that when a child opens a book he has illustrated, he wants them to
see themselves on the pages and in turn be inspired to reach their full
potential. Thank you, Rafael, for your beautiful illustrations, for your belief
in the power of art and reading to impact change, and for your generous support
of CSLF through the donation of your artwork.
Rafael splits his time between his loft in San Diego,
California, and his studio in the colonial town of San Miguel Allende, Mexico. See
TeachingBooks for
more information on his books, including videos, resources, and a blog post by
Rafael explaining in detail his process for designing illustrations.
While Rafael’s work is currently not featured in the Library Advocacy Store, he has graciously donated an illustration promoting reading and school libraries for the California School Library Foundation. Donors to the Foundation will receive a bookmark.
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