
A great loss for children's literature
This year has seen the loss of two great illustrators. Earlier this year the kid lit industry suffered the loss of Floyd Cooper. Floyd Cooper explored the African-American experience through the lens of history. Through his work he hoped to recount pieces of history that were either not taught or barely taught. He certainly achieved that with his most recent work - Unspeakable : the Tulsa Race Massacre. He also created affirmative illustrations in books like The Blacker the Berry, a 2009 Coretta Scott King illustrator award winner.