Philadelphia Declares July 19th "Jerry Pinkney Day"
by Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Celebrated children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney got a special honor in his hometown on Tuesday: Philadelphia declared it "Jerry Pinkney Day."
It was his third big award this year.
Germantown born and bred, Jerry Pinkney has illustrated more than 100 children's books-- original stories, classics, and folk tales-- often with a link to his African-American heritage, and, he says, his Philadelphia roots.
"You look at my work today and what do you find? Family, history. Oh, and this is very important. I was a design student, yet illustration became the spirit around my work. How did that happen? Well, we had the Brandywine school: Andrew Wyeth and Howard Pyle. How did that come about? Isn't that kind of magical?" said Pinkney.
Pinkney moved away 50 years ago but was thrilled to be honored here.
He's also received this year's Laura Ingalls Wilder and Coretta Scott King awards for lifetime achievement.
