R. Gregory Christie Accepts 2026 CSK Illustrator Award

R. Gregory Christie’s work has long carried a quiet power—images that open doors, deepen understanding, and make history feel close enough to hold.

In 2026, he received the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for The Library in the Woods, his collaboration with Calvin Alexander Ramsey. It is a book rooted in community strength and the enduring impact of Rosenwald schools, and Christie’s illustrations give that history a heartbeat.

His acceptance speech, delivered on June 28, 2026 at the American Library Association’s annual conference in Chicago, was a moment shaped by gratitude, reflection, and the shared belief that stories can build bridges across generations. What follows is an excerpt from the speech he offered to librarians, educators, families, and all those who keep the light of learning burning.

R. Gregory Christie Accepts the 2026 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

It’s hard to put a life into a few hundred words. But moments like this make you look back. I see a kid who spent a lot of time in the library, just trying to figure things out, looking at books with that same Coretta Scott King Award seal on them. And somehow that turned into a life in books.

In the library, I wasn’t searching for anything specific. I was just looking. I pulled books off the shelf and spent time with the pictures. The composition, the color, the way the images carried the story. That’s what stayed with me.

When I read The Library in the Woods, I felt that immediately. A family dealing with hardship but holding on to dignity. Parents building something for their child, even if they may not fully step into that future themselves.

The Library in the Woods

Illustrated by award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie.

To me, the story is about three things: the past, the present, and the future. The past shapes us. But if you stay there too long, it can weigh you down. The present challenges us. It’s where we either stand up or lose our footing. The future drives us. It can inspire us, or it can make us anxious when we start imagining outcomes that haven’t even happened yet. We move between those three all the time.

When I talk to students, I explain it a little differently. I tell them that right now, they are living in their past. What they are experiencing today becomes their foundation. It happens fast. One day you are in a classroom, and before you know it, those years are behind you. So I tell them to pay attention. Take it in. Protect it as they go.

I also tell them that success comes with both prizes and pitfalls. Even something you love can wear you down if you don’t learn how to manage it. Too much of a good thing still needs regulation.

That connects to where we are now. We live in a time where information moves fast. Where stories can be altered, removed, or reframed. That’s why books matter.

Read the full speech at www.hbook.com/story/2026-csk-illustrator-award-acceptance-by-r-gregory-christie.

For more information about R. Gregory Christie, visit www.rgregorychristie.com.

R. Gregory Christie founded GAS-ART GIFTS (Gregarious Art Statements) in 2012 to promote his books, artwork, and stationery. Boost your book collection and decorate with diversity! Check out www.gas-art.com.