One of today's leading illustrators of children's books, Jerry Pinkney, presented "A Sense of Place," a lecture on Feb. 17, in the Mumford Room of the Library's James Madison Building. This event was co-sponsored by the Library's Prints and Photographs Division, the African American History Month Planning Committee and the Center for the Book.

Pinkney has been illustrating children's books since 1964. These include classics such as "Noah's Ark" (2003), "The Nightingale" (2002), "The Little Match Girl" (1999) and "John Henry" (1994).

Pinkney's numerous awards underscore his distinguished place in the field of illustration. He has received five Caldecott Honor Medals, five Coretta Scott King Awards and has twice been a Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner. Pinkney has created illustrations for the U.S. Postal Service's Black Heritage series, the National Geographic and the National Park Service's African American history and culture projects.