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One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new city is look at the murals that adorn the sides of buildings. Many murals are a result of an activist looking to share about a cause that is dear to them, and that is what this picture book is all about. A young boy combines his art with activism in this beautifully illustrated book.

Ruth Asawa’s legacy is everywhere. The USPS recently issued gorgeous stamps featuring her intricate wire sculptures. The Whitney Museum of American Art has an exhibit of her drawings. Ruth Asawa grew up in California, but her family was forced to leave their home in 1942 as part of the U.S. government’s World War II isolation policies toward Japanese Americans. She found support among the other artists during her internment and went on to have a large family of her own and continued to create stunning sculptures throughout her life.

In 1899, a baby boy was born on a farm in Idaho. His parents named him James Castle. He was deaf, mute, autistic, and probably dyslexic. Caldecott Medalist Allen Say reimagines James’s boyhood in this stunning picture book, revealing all the challenges he overcame as he pursued his art. Ultimately, James Castle had his artwork displayed in major museums around the world.

Judith Scott was born with Down syndrome, and her childhood was marked by creating stunning art. She was ultimately institutionalized until her sister became an adult and fought to have Judith live with her. Even though Judith was deaf and never learned to speak, she went on to become an artist of renown, with her work displayed in museums and galleries around the world.