That's how Society of Illustrator's annual juried show of children's book art got its name, "The Original Art." Its founder, artist's rep Dilys Evans, felt that the originals for those magical narratives should be appreciated by more than an audience of three - the editor, the art director, and the artist, who were usually the only people beyond the artists' circle to see the original art.

At first there was not much enthusiasm for the distraction of selecting and mounting artwork for a project that was already way in the background for the artists. "For the first show, 30 years ago," said Marcia Leonard, Evans's longtime collaborator, "we went around the city in a car picking up the art in order to have it in time for the judging. When the winners were announced at the exhibition opening though, almost everyone showed up at the gallery, which was sort of a co-op space sponsored by a group of printers. Only when they saw their art hung on the walls did they get it." And it's been a downhill battle ever since, with hundreds of submissions every year.

This year's installment is a feast of delights in all media, from straight-ahead watercolor to screen printing to "medium black Prismacolor pencil and gouache" to straight-ahead digital. What's more, all the books are displayed in kid-sized racks on the floor with cushy benches for leisurely browsing. There are so many wonderful pieces on view that I had to come up with some personal criteria in order to pick a just few to mention. In absolutely no order, here are three:

Left to right, book jacket art by Renata Liwska, Jon Klassen, and Natalie Russell; courtesy  Society of Illustrators.

Cats' Night Out (Jon Klassen, illustrations; Caroline Stutson, author) made me want to be transformed into a feline for a fabulous night on the town. The story goes, From the alley, music drifts/ Shadows sway to a trumpet riff/ Two cats samba, dressed in white/ on the rooftop, Saturday night. The number of cats doubles with each turn of the page until Twenty conga, left and right/ in splashy florals, plaids, and stripes. The spareness of the forms is in wonderful contrast to the lush light of night time on Easy Street. What's so enchanting is that the almost abstract cats become stand-ins for human characters and it's hard to imagine a child not picturing him-or-herself as one of the revelers - even doing cat things that humans simply can't do, like strolling across a high, narrow fence.

In The Quiet Book (Renata Liwska, illustrations; Deborah Underwood, author) different reasons for being silent unfold through the activities of a legion of charming creatures. A mouse and a rabbit skip stones at the water's edge to demonstrate "Best friends don't need to talk quiet." A little fox, frightened by an impending injection by the school nurse shows what "Pretending you're invisible quiet" is like. Soft and winsome animals, including raccoons, hedgehogs, even an elk, act out scenes for "Making a wish quiet;" "Thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the wall quiet," and more. This book is The Original Art Gold Medal winner for 2010.

For Brown Rabbit in the City, illustrator/author Natalie Russell created screenprints that tell the story of the lovelorn Brown Rabbit's visit to Little Rabbit in the big city. The chic and decidedly urban little white rabbit rushes from one activity to another without a minute's time to enjoy the doings. At one point they dash out of a cafe before Brown Rabbit can even finish his carrot cake. As evening arrives, he is so perplexed - and tired - that he leaves her behind. But the story has a happy ending as they reunite and exchange hugs.

The opening reception and awards ceremony is Thursday, October 21st at 6:00 pm. Society of Illustrators, 128 East 63rd Street, NY, NY. Please visit the website for information about upcoming public programs, including Stephen Savage on Illustrating Bedtime Books, October 27th at 6:30 pm.

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