George Ford

George Cephas Ford (born August 3, 1926) is an American illustrator of over 30 children's books, renowned for his realistic depictions of Black children and families. He earned the inaugural Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration in 1974 for Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis and illustrated notable works such as The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and Bright Eyes, Brown Skin, which received the Benjamin Franklin Award. Ford has been a pivotal figure in advancing diverse representation in U.S. children's literature over a career spanning more than five decades. AALBC)