James Ransome (illustrator) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Ransome
Born	(1961-09-25) September 25, 1961 (age 63) Rich Square, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	Illustrator
Language	English
Education	BA
Alma mater	Pratt Institute
Genre	Picture books
Years active	1993–present
Notable works	Before She Was Harriet
Notable awards	NAACP Image Award (1999) Children's Literature Legacy Award (2023)
Spouse	Lesa Cline-Ransome
Children	4

James E. Ransome was born on September 25, 1961. He is an American artist who has illustrated over 60 children's books. His artwork helps tell stories and makes books exciting for young readers. Besides books, he has also created art for greeting cards and magazines. He even painted large murals, including three for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Early Life and Education

James Ransome was born in Rich Square, North Carolina. When he was in high school, his family moved to Bergenfield, New Jersey. There, he took classes in filmmaking and photography. These classes helped shape his unique art style.

He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. At Pratt Institute, a famous illustrator named Jerry Pinkney was his mentor. A mentor is someone who guides and teaches a younger person.

Life as a Professor

Today, James Ransome is a professor at Syracuse University in the School of Art. He teaches art to students there. He lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome, and their family.

Awards and Recognitions

James Ransome's books have won many important awards. These awards celebrate his amazing contributions to children's literature. His book The Bell Rang (2019) was chosen as a Junior Library Guild book. This means it was recognized as a high-quality book for young readers.

Junior Library Guild Selections

Many other books illustrated by Ransome have also been Junior Library Guild selections. These include:

• Bimmi Finds a Cat (1997)
• The Christmas Tugboat (2012)
• Light in the Darkness (2013)
• Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio (2014)
• My Story, My Dance (2016)
• Before She Was Harriet (2018)
• Game Changers (2018)
• The Creation (2019)
• Gridiron (2020)
• Overground Railroad (2020)
• Hardcourt (2022)
• Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge (2022)
• The Story of the Saxophone (2023)

Critically Acclaimed Books

His book Before She Was Harriet was named one of the best books of 2017 by several groups. These included Booklist, the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, the Chicago Public Library, and Kirkus Reviews. In 2018, Booklist also put it on their lists of "Top 10 Diverse Picture Books" and "Top 10 Biographies for Youth."

The Bell Rang was also recognized as one of the best books of 2019. It received praise from the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, the Chicago Public Library, The Horn Book Magazine, and Kirkus Reviews. In 2020, the National Council of Teachers of English added it to their Notable Poetry List.

Major Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2023, James Ransome received the prestigious Children's Literature Legacy Award. This award is given to an author or illustrator who has made a "significant and lasting contribution to literature for children." It shows how much his work has impacted young readers over many years.