Jerry Pinkney Signature

American Children’s Book Illustrator
1939 - 2021

A Walk In The Woods

Now Available!

“When life imitates art.”

A moving yet gentle book that makes you pay close attention. A young boy is inspired to take a walk in the woods after the loss of his father. By doing so, he finds a heartfelt treasure from his Dad and learns much about himself, his Father and their shared love of art and nature. It reveals something deeper for their relationship and helps him to find peace amid grief. The beautifully drawn forest by Jerry Pinkney is wonderfully colored with a lovely wash overlay by Brian Pinkney. The illustrations help you to feel the words on the page.


Art mirrors life in this remarkable picture book as Brian Pinkney completed the unfinished drawings of his Father, Jerry Pinkney after his passing in 2021.


The latest children's book from award winning illustrators Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney, A Walk in the Woods, written by multiple award winning author, Nikki Grimes Published by Neal Porter Books/ Holiday House.

Starred Reviews

Enjoy the behind the scenes interview of award winners Brian Pinkney and Nikki Grimes on KidLit TV/ StoryMakers.

The author Nikki, discusses the process of how she and Jerry originally came up with the idea. Then what they went through to bring this incredible story about their love of nature to life. Brian Pinkney later joined the project after the unexpected passing of his father Jerry Pinkney to finish what he started. A true collaboration between three artistic geniuses.

Studio shot of the book "Just Jerry How Drawing Shaped my Life"

See the world through the artist's eyes.

Join Jerry as he welcomes you into his incredible world – starting on an all-Black block of East Earlham Street in Philadelphia - and see how he captures it in his magnificent, detailed, evocative illustrations.

Starred Reviews

Just Jerry as an audiobook in a phone with an image of Scott Pinkney recording in a studio

Hear Jerry’s words and world brought to life by those who knew him best.

We're proud that Just Jerry has been selected for the Libro.fm Advance Listening Program.

Welcome to the world of Jerry Pinkney.

Welcome to the world of Jerry Pinkney.

Portrait of Jerry Pinkney in his office with books around him

Photograph by Jacob Blickenstaff

Over a career spanning 69 years, Jerry Pinkney became one of the most revered and respected children's book illustrators in America, if not the world. His evocative drawings and paintings won him international acclaim and brought more than 100 children's books to life.

As one of America’s pre-eminent Black illustrators, many of Jerry’s books prominently featured Black characters, Black history and culture, with the underlying goal of dignifying African-American images.

His books have been translated into sixteen languages and published in fourteen countries, and he has been the recipient of the Randolph Caldecott Medal, five Caldecott Honors, five New York Times “Best Illustrated Books", five Coretta Scott King Awards, and four Coretta Scott King Honor Awards.

On October 20, 2021, Jerry Pinkney passed peacefully at the age of 81.

Please join us as we introduce you to his life and his work.

100 Books

100 Books —

The Welcome Chair
2021
Simon & Schuster

The Little Mermaid
2020
Little Brown For Young Readers

A Place To Land
2019
Holiday House

A Home in the Barn
2018
Harper Collins

The Three Billy Goats Gruff
2017
Little Brown

The Christmas Boot
2016
Dial

The Tortoise and the Hare
2013
Little Brown

Puss in Boots
2012
Dial

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
2011
Little Brown

Three Little Kittens
2010
Dial

Sweethearts of Rhythm
2009
Dial

The Lion & The Mouse
2009
Little Brown

The Moon Over Star
2008
Dial

Little Red Riding Hood
2007
Little Brown

The All-I'll-Ever-Want
Christmas Doll

2007
Schwartz & Wade

Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me
2007
Jump at the Sun

The Little Red Hen
2006
Dial

The Old African
2005
Dial

God Bless The Child
2003
Harper Collins

Noah's Ark
2002
Seastar Books

Albidaro and the Mischievous Dream
2000
Phyllis Fogelman Books

Aesop's Fables
2000
Seastar Books

Journeys with Elijah
1999
Harcourt

The Ugly Duckling
1999
Harper Collins

Uncle Remus:
The Complete Tales

1999
Phyllis Fogelman Books

The Little Match Girl
1999
Phyllis Fogelman Books

Black Cowboy, Wild Horses
1998
Dial

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
1997
Morrow

The Hired Hand
1997
Dial

Sam and the Tigers
1996
Dial

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
1996
Dial

The Jungle Book
1995
Morrow

Tanya's Reunion
1995
Dial

John Henry
1994
Dial

A Starlit Somersault Downhill
1993
Little Brown

New Shoes for Silvia
1993
Morrow

I Want to Be
1993
Dial

David's Songs
1992
Dial

Back Home
1992
Dial

Drylongso
1992
Harcourt Brace

The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket
1991
Dial

In For Winter, Out For Spring
1991
Harcourt Brace

Pretend You're a Cat
1990
Dial

Home Place
1990
Macmillan

Further Tales of Uncle Remus
1990
Dial

Turtle in July
1989
Macmillan

More Tales of Uncle Remus
1988
Dial

Mirandy and Brother Wind
1988
Knopf

The Green Lion of Zion Street
1988
McElderry Books

Wild Wild Sunflower Child Anna
1987
Macmillan

The Tales of Uncle Remus
1987
Dial / Bodley Head

Strange Animals of the Sea
1987
National Geographic

Half a Moon and One Whole Star
1986
Macmillan

A Patchwork Quilt
1985
Dial

Tonweya and the Eagles, and other Lakota Tales
1979
Dial

Childtimes: A Three Generation Memoir
1979
Crowell

Tales from Africa
1978
Silver Burdett

Mary McLeod Bethune
1977
Crowell

Ji-Nongo-Nongo Means Riddle
1977
Four Winds Press

Yagua Days
1975
Dial

Song of the Trees
1975
Dial

Roots of Time
1974
Doubleday

The King's Ditch: A Hawaiian Tale
1971
Coward McCann

The Twin Witches of Fingle Fu
1969
L.W. Singer

The Porcupine and the Tiger
1969
Lothrop Lee & Sheppard

Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life
2023
Hachette

A Walk In The Woods
2023
Holiday House

The Grasshopper & the Ants
2015
Little Brown

In Plain Sight
2016
Roaring Brook Press

Goin' Someplace Special
2001
An Ann Schwartz Book

The Nightingale
2002
Phyllis Fogelman Books

The Last Tales of Uncle Remus
1994
Dial

The Sunday Outing
1994
Dial

Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion
1989
Dial

The Talking Eggs
1989
Dial

Apples on a Stick:
Folklore of Black Children

1981
Coward McCann

Monster Myths of Ancient Greece
1981
Putnam

Count Your Fingers African Style
1980
Crowell

Jahdu
1980
Greenwillow

Femi and Old Grandaddie
1972
Coward McCann

The Great Minu
1974
Follett

Kasho and the Twin Flutes
1973
Coward McCann

Mickey and Minny
1973
Houghton

More Adventures of Spider
1971
Scholastic Book Services

JD
1972
Doubleday

The Pinkney family would like to thank the following people for their support in bringing our father’s story to life. Raymond Smith who did a marvellous job editing and crafting Jerry’s story. Tiffany Wu for her beautiful design skills which bring the story to life. And Jesse Bourdon for the intimate and thoughtful video interview that gives a wonderful look into our father’s journey, his passion for his craft, and the gift he gave to the world through his art and storytelling.