“If Art had one flaw, it was that he was often mean to his sister Esther. But that was all before the amazing Christmas of 1908. Before the Great Adventure. Before the mysterious box arrived and changed young Art forever.”--Santa Calls, William Joyce

When William Joyce’s book, Santa Calls, arrived in Abilene in 1993 Abilene seemed to have changed forever. Dr. Gary McCaleb, Mayor of Abilene at the time, read this book to an elementary school class, and began to dream of a place where children’s picture book illustrations could be preserved, celebrated, and brought to life. Thus, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature was born.

Growing up in Abilene, it was always very evident that our community appreciated and prioritized art and education. Our school districts regard fine art as a necessity for well-rounded students, local government passionately pursues artistic revenue streams of tourism, and nonprofits in the area work tirelessly to provide fine art opportunities that inspire creativity for people from all walks of life. It is those same people who prioritized artistic progress that transformed the old Grace Museum garage, once known as the Rhodes building, into a magical sanctuary for art and literacy.

The NCCIL has always stood out to me when I think of the many organizations in Abilene who work to share their love of art with the community. One of those reasons being that we have always been and will continue to always be free.

Yes! Free.

No family should bear a financial burden when seeking a fine art experience. The NCCIL is accessible to all. Every age, gender, ethnicity, and creed can find a home here. Moreover, they can see themselves reflected in the art and illustrations displayed in the gallery by the brilliant and diverse artists that we have the privilege of working with.

I myself am dyslexic, but it never stopped me from being passionate about picture books. Ever since I was a child, I have always been captivated by the magic that is picture book illustrations. Even when the words were unattainable, the story was palpable and immersive because of the art on the pages. I gained a deeper connection to art because of my necessity for understanding without words.

At our core, the NCCIL has and will continue to hold steadfast to its mission: to exhibit, tour, collect, preserve, and promote original art from the finest children’s literature. Beyond our mission is our vision: Continuing to inspire and empower children to read and be creative. We are proud of the work we are doing and proud that our reach now extends nationally and even globally! Our work is valuable, it is important, and it is vital.

And it’s all possible because of generous NCCIL donors and members. Partnering with us means more than dollars. It means delivering books to local schools, putting art supplies in the hands of eager young artists, and giving children from all walks of life an outlet for the ability to create, to dream big, and express themselves in ways only art allows.

It is an honor to be a small part in the 25 years of NCCIL history. The privilege of sharing our work and having the opportunity to continue the NCCIL’s legacy beyond the 25th year is not lost on me. With an innovative and proactive board partnered with a passionate and qualified team, we hope to make the visionaries and hardworking Abilenian’s who once dreamed of such a magical place proud.

“Art held his sister tightly as whatever sadness and loneliness he had ever felt melted away, and the Man in the Moon himself seemed to bid them farewell. ‘The world is more full of wonders than I ever knew,’ he said in a whisper.” –Santa Calls, William Joyce

May every guest that enter our building, stops by the book store, creates in out studio, or experiences us virtually feel the profound joy and creative inspirations that only the NCCIL can provide. Here’s to inspiring creativity for another 25 years.

In all things art, culture, and literature,

Molly Bellah