Caldecott-winning children’s illustrator and author Eric Rohmann will talk about his work at a free presentation at the Champaign Public Library on Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. This event for school-age children and families will be in Robeson Pavilion Room A & B of the library, located at 200 W. Green St. Registration is not required. A book sale and signing will follow his talk.
Rohmann grew up in Downer’s Grove, Illinois, and has a master’s degree in studio art from Illinois State University, plus an MFA in printmaking/fine bookmaking from Arizona State University. He has also taught printmaking, painting and fine bookmaking.
His illustration style ranges from realistic, highly detailed paintings to bold, hand-colored prints. Rohmann’s first book for children, the wordless picture book Time Flies, used intricate illustrations to tell the story of a bird traveling back to the time of the dinosaurs. The book earned a Caldecott Honor award in 1995 and was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Rohmann applied a similar style in his cover art for author Philip Pullman’s bestselling His Dark Materials series, starting with The Golden Compass.
Rohmann turned to graphic relief prints in My Friend Rabbit, which received the 2003 Caldecott Medal award, and again in his newest book, Bone Dog, published in 2011.
Rohmann’s time in Champaign will include classroom visits with grades K to 2 at Robeson and Carrie Busey Elementary Schools.
For more information, call the Champaign Public Library Children’s Services department at 217/403-2030.