Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Banned Book Cover

During the Banned Books Week, 23 - 29 September 2018, the Friends of the Bowie Library group from my local public library, sponsored an event to "creatively express your freedom to read by designing an original book cover inspired by a banned book.”  I’ve always loved to draw book covers but never really had a chance to do it commercially.  This was a great chance to draw a book cover, if just for fun.  I chose the book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.  I remembered reading this book in high school and am now re-reading it.  It’s still a great read.  

When my artwork, along with others, were displayed at the library, each of us was asked to explain our choice of illustration.  I chose this book because it is one of the books I remembered reading in school and it touched me personally.  To me the book is about a struggle of a young girl trying to find her own identity and herself in the midst of all the things that happened to her along the way.  She felt trapped but she won’t let herself be trapped.  She sings loudly to be heard and find her escape.  It sounds so cliche to write about it here, but I think this could be a struggle for any young girl in any generation, even in today’s world.  I think this book transcends time.


I’ve included the artwork of the other 2 artists who participated in the challenge. 


“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. My book cover with title and author added digitally.

My original drawing. “My tears were … for the helplessness of mortals who live on the sufferance of Life” -“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou


Book: “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury.  Artist: Kenneth McLeod.


Book: “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut.  Artist: Kenneth McLeod.


Book: “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle.  Artist: Margarita Alvarez-Kuinlam.


Book: “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle.  Artist: Margarita Alvarez-Kuinlam

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