Last March The Rabbit hOle launched an artistic collaboration with nationally and internationally renowned children’s book creators, asking each to create an original illustration in response to the theme “Reading is Resistance.”
“The theme considers a country in flux, where the values of imagination, experimentation, cultural diversity, the pursuit of knowledge, and freedom itself are being characterized as societal weaknesses and threats to the powers that be,” said Rabbit hOle co-director Pete Cowdin.
“Within this environment, books have come under unprecedented attack, and reading itself is rapidly becoming an act of defiance. Children are by far the most profoundly impacted group, and the most disenfranchised. If we lose a generation of readers to a mounting era of repression, the consequences create devastating odds for the recovery of a free, inclusive and informed citizenry.”
Coinciding with their visits to The Rabbit hOle, eight children’s book creators designed original artworks that were adapted for printing by Print Shop Manager Devin Goebel.
“Each creator brought their own unique illustration style to the project,” Goebel said. “Artwork arrived in digital files, or as scans of traditional paintings and drawings. The biggest challenge was faithfully translating their artwork into high-quality letterpress impressions.”
The limited edition print series debuted with Christian Robinson in March 2025. Robinson drew inspiration from his groundbreaking picture book, Last Stop on Market Street, which was written by Matt de la Peña and is a featured exhibit at The Rabbit hOle.
Reflecting on the Reading is Resistance prompt, Robinson said, “I immediately saw the image in my head of CJ and Nana on the bus reading, and I remembered Matt de la Peña’s line: ‘CJ and Nana sat right up front.’ It was a subtle line in the book, but it had a strong, impactful meaning historically.”
Rounding out the roster of artists for the project are Jon Agee, Kevin Henkes, K-Fai Steele, Charlie Mylie, Daniel Miyares, Peter H. Reynolds and Sophie Blackall.
“We were so lucky to have gained the trust of such an illustrious group of creators,” Cowdin said. “It’s an example of what makes The Rabbit hOle so special. It’s a hopeful collection of images that marks a time in history that none of us will forget.”
Individual prints are available now online at rabbitholekc.org/shop, or in The Rabbit hOle’s bookstore, Lucky Rabbit Books. Starting in March, the entire set of prints will be available for purchase in a beautifully packaged collectible portfolio edition. Each print in the portfolio will be numbered and hand-signed.
