A View of the Earth

Here are illustrations for a an English textbook geared towards giving 5th graders more courage to write. They accompany an essay by astronaut, Michael Massimino, who recounts his amazing experience fixing the Hubble Telescope. While studying engineering at MIT, he went to see The Right Stuff, a film about the Gemini space program. This experience inspired him to become an astronaut.

He applied to NASA four times before receiving a phone call that he was accepted into the space program. Michael was trained for a mission to fly into space - and fix a faulty instrument on the Hubble Telescope.

Upon arriving at the telescope, their first task was to remove a panel on it's exterior. Unfortunately they discovered a faulty screw holding the panel in place, which jeopardized their mission. After a short panic attack, Michael and Mission Control calmly figured out a solution to safely remove the panel, and fix the faulty instrument.

Screws from the Hubble Telescope loom large in the fate of their mission

Having accomplished his mission, Michael was able enjoy the experience of simply floating in space, taking in the enormity of the universe surrounding him.

Double page spread panorama

Detail of astronaut Missimino taking in the expanse of space

Upon returning to Earth, Michael received a hero's welcome
from his friend and family in Houston.

A special thanks to art director, Carmela Stricklett,

at Amplify for this rewarding opportunity.

 
You can view my drawings accompanying an essay by the great Rosa Parks, here.

The Year I Got Polio

These illustrations a appear in an English textbook designed to give 4th graders more courage to write. They accompany an essay by Peg Kehret, an award winning author of books for children. She recounts her struggle of contracting polio at age 12, in Austin Minnesota. Fortunately, Peg made a nearly complete recovery.

Before symptoms of Polio set in, the author looked forward to Homecoming parade.

Peg collapsing at school was a sign that something was amiss...

A wheelchair sits ominously in the corner of her hospital room.

In the hospital, Peg dreams of all the fun things she's missing out on...

Arriving home after a nearly full recovery,
 Peg was comforted by her father's accordion performance.

A special thanks to art director, Carmela Stricklett,

at Amplify for this rewarding opportunity.

 
You can view my drawings accompanying an essay by the great Rosa Parks, here.

When I Was Puerto Rican

These drawings appear in a new textbook geared towards inspiring 4th graders to write. They accompany an essay by writer and actress, Esmeralda Santiago, who recounts memories from her childhood growing up in Puerto Rico. Guava trees grow abundantly on the island.  The ritual of eating this fresh fruit, with it's vibrant colors and succulent flavor, made a strong impression on her youthful senses. After moving to New York later in life, Esmeralda missed having this magical treat so readily available. It was a fond memory of her childhood.

Picking guava as a child.

"At night, your mother makes you drink castor oil,
which she says tastes better than a green guava."

Guavas found in NY supermarkets could not match the magical quality of those in Puerto Rico.

A special thanks to art director, Carmela Stricklett,

at Amplify for this rewarding opportunity.

 
You can view my drawings accompanying an essay by the great Rosa Parks, here.

Slumber Party

Here are more pieces I illustrated for a an English textbook geared towards giving 4th graders more courage to write. They accompany an essay by novelist and poet, Laurel Snyder,  who recounts her experiences as an 8 year old at her first slumber party. At this Halloween sleepover, she had an experience which could have made her feel like a complete outcast. But instead, it turned into a wonderful life-affirming lesson about friendship.

You can view my drawings accompanying an essay by the great Rosa Parks, here.

A special thanks to art director, Carmela Stricklett, 

at Amplify for this really fun opportunity.

Land of Opportunity

Here are more pieces I illustrated for a an English textbook geared towards giving 5th graders more courage to write, They accompany a narrative essay by African-American writer, Bertie Bowman,  who grew up on a rural South Carolina farm in the 1930's. At age 13, he ran away from home.  Working as a porter on a train, he found his way north to a true land of opportunity, Washington DC. Once there, he never looking back, finding jobs on Capital Hill. He worked all the way up the ranks to become a staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Life on the farm consisted of slopping pigs.

You can view my drawings accompanying an essay by the great Rosa Parks, here.

A special thanks to art director, Carmela Stricklett, 

at Amplify for this really fun opportunity.

Rosa Parks

I just completed over fifty drawings for textbooks geared towards giving 4th and 5th graders more courage to write.  I illustrated essays by variety of fascinating people, from former Secretary of State, Condeleeza Rice - to the astronaut who fixed the Hubble Telescope. My favorite essay was by Rosa Parks, who's crime of sitting in the wrong seat on a bus became a rallying cry for the civil rights movement. As in the picture above (of Rosa Parks' childhood home), these drawings depict pivotal places (and moments) which helped define who she was.

As a child in the 1920's, Rosa attended a wooden schoolhouse.

White children were bussed to far nicer schools

White students used to throw trash at Rosa and classmates as they walked to school.

During segregation, African-Americans were required to enter and stay in the back of the bus.

My depiction of the seating chart for the bus Rosa Parks was arrested on.

From Rosa Parks' perspective, a view of her bus driver with police officers.

From Rosa Parks perspective, after her arrest. The officers were very respectful towards her.

A special thanks to art director Carmela Stricklett at Amplify, 

who helped guide me through this massive (but very fun) project.

You can view my new illustration website here!

"Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others."

~ Rosa Parks