Kids Book Club
The People's Painter: How Shahn Fought for Justice with Art by Cynthia Levinson
Jun 22, 2025 1:30pm — 3:30pm
Kid's Book Club meets at The Center every fourth Sunday of the month from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
The program includes a book, a gallery tour, and an art-making project.
Register Here
Registration is required.
June's Book is: The People's Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art by Cynthia Levinson
About the Book:
The People’s Painter is a lyrically told, exquisitely illustrated picture book biography of influential Jewish artist and activist Ben Shahn.
A Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner
An Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable Picture Book
“The first thing I can remember,” Ben said, “I drew.”
As an observant child growing up in Lithuania, Ben Shahn yearns to draw everything he sees—and, after seeing his father banished by the Czar for demanding workers’ rights, he develops a keen sense of justice, too.
So when Ben and the rest of his family make their way to America, Ben brings both his sharp artistic eye and his desire to fight for what’s right. As he grows, he speaks for justice through his art—by disarming classmates who bully him because he’s Jewish, by defying his teachers’ insistence that he paint beautiful landscapes rather than true stories, by urging the US government to pass Depression-era laws to help people find food and jobs.
In this moving and timely portrait, award-winning author Cynthia Levinson and illustrator Evan Turk honor an artist, immigrant, and activist whose work still resonates today: a true painter for the people.
Tickets
Family/Dual Member Level or higher: $20 for one child, including the book. Additional children of the same family are free.
Not yet members: $25 for one child, including the book; $5 for each additional child.
For membership information, visit our Membership page.
As a special bonus, Hyatt's All Things Creative has allowed Burchfield Penney to offer $50 Family Memberships to all new members who sign up at Kids Book Club. That's a $25 savings. And as if that weren't enough, each new member will receive a $25 gift card for any purchase at Hyatt's All Things Creative.