JAMES RANSOME & LESA CLINE-RANSOME BIOGRAPHY I BOOKS I PRESENTATIONS I BOOK ORDERING
Ransome has exhibited works in group and solo shows throughout the country and received The Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance award for his book, The Wagon. In 1999, Let My People Go received the NAACP Image Award for Illustration and Satchel Paige was reviewed in Bank Street College of Education's "The Best Children's Books of the Year." He has completed a mural for the Children's Museum in Indianapolis and a historical painting commissioned by a jury for the Paterson, NJ Library. His work is part of both private and public children's book art collections. For the body of his work, James received the 2001 Rip Van Winkle Award from the School Library Media Specialists of Southeast New York. "What makes illustrating books so exciting," Ransome has said, "is that because each book has a special voice, my approach toward each is different. Whether it be through my choice of palette, design or perspective, there is always a desire to experiment and explore what makes each book unique." James Ransome earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Pratt Institute, where he met his mentor, Jerry Pinkney. Ransome went on to teach at Pratt Institute himself, even as he continues his work as an illustrator. He also frequently lectures at elementary schools, libraries and book conferences. Born in Rich Square, North Carolina, he now lives in upstate New York with his wife, Lesa, children Jaime, Maya, Malcolm and Leila and their Dalmation, Clinton. Here is the studio that James works in:
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The
Children's Book Council named James E. Ransome as one of seventy-five
authors and illustrators everyone should know. Currently a member
of the Society of Illustrators, Ransome has received both the
Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration and the IBBY Honor Award
for his book, The Creation. He has also received a Coretta
Scott King Honor Award for Illustration for Uncle Jed's Barbershop,
which was also selected as an ALA Notable Book. Uncle
Jed's Barbershop as well as How Many Stars in the Sky?
and Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt are all Reading
Reading Rainbow selections. PBS's Storytime featured his book,
The Old Dog. Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire
State Building, written by Deborah Hopkinson was among the
2007 Notable Children's Books.