Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson is an American illustrator and author who has won the Coretta Scott King Award multiple times, both for illustration (e.g., The Undefeated, 2020) and for author-illustrator work (Heart and Soul, 2012). He is known for his photorealistic oil paintings that have graced the covers of The New Yorker, the New York Times, and hundreds of children's books. Nelson has illustrated for a remarkable range of clients, including creating illustrations for Michael Jackson's HIStory album and the official portrait of Barack Obama for the 2009 inauguration. His picture books are distinguished by their rich, luminous colour and their dignified portrayal of African American history and culture. He grew up in Atlanta and San Diego and studied illustration at Pratt Institute. Nelson is widely regarded as one of the most gifted illustrators working in American children's books today.