James E. Ransome (American, b. 1961)
Reaching for the Moon, 2004
Illustration for A Pride of African Tales by Donna L. Washington, HarperCollins, 2004
Watercolor on paper
Signed bottom middle
Sheet 19 x 14 inches
Copyright © 2004 James Ransome

James E. Ransome's illustration portrays the climactic moment in "The Boy Who Wanted the Moon" when a selfish prince, after forcing his father to build scaffolding to reach the moon, reaches up to claim his prize. This pourquoi tale from the Congo is included in A Pride of African Tales (2004), an anthology celebrating the oral tradition of storytelling from various regions of the continent. Ransome did extensive research to accurately capture traditional African textiles and landscapes.

Ransome received the NAACP Image Award for Illustration for Let My People Go (1998). In 2001 he won the Rip Van Winkle Award from the School Library Media Specialist of Southeast New York for his body of his work. Ransome's art was featured in The Carle's exhibition Our Voice: The Coretta Scott King Illustrators Award Exhibition (2018).



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Artwork is framed by R. Michelson Galleries using archival materials.

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