Scholastic has opened an auction to benefit its global literacy campaign, “Read Every Day. Lead A Better Life.”
The auction features pieces created by twelve celebrated children’s illustrators: Norman Bridwell, Bruce Degen, Edwin Fotheringham, Mary GrandPré, Barbara McClintock, Jon J. Muth, Sean Qualls, Stephen Savage, David Shannon, Jeff Smith, Mark Teague, and Raina Telgemeier.
USA Today posted a slideshow with all twelve pieces of art. The money generated by the auction will go to two children’s literacy organizations, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Reach Out and Read. The auction will close on June 5th.
Every participant created original artwork for this auction, but that doesn’t mean appearances from old picture book friends aren’t allowed. For instance, Muth used watercolors to create a piece featuring Zen Shorts‘s Stillwater the Panda reading stacks of books, Bridwell inked a Clifford the Big Red Dog surrounded by several reading children, and Degen made a portrait of Miss Frizzle–the teacher who invited everyone onto her magic school bus. Which one would you bid on?