E. B. Lewis

Earl Bradley Lewis (born December 16, 1956) is an American artist and illustrator. He is best known for his watercolor illustrations for children's books such as Jacqueline Woodson’s The Other Side and Jabari Asim’s Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis.

Lewis has been awarded prizes for his illustrations including the 2016 New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award for Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis and the 2005 Caldecott Honor Award for Jacqueline Woodson's Coming on Home Soon.

Lewis draws inspiration from his uncles, who particularly influenced his love of art. He often speaks on his challenges as a young student and how that shaped his passion for teaching and the emotional layers to his art, which often connect to history. E.B. Lewis studied illustration, graphic design and art education at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University.

Personal life Earl Bradley Lewis was born on December 16, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Through this exposure, he met contacts to help with shows and framing and began to have exhibitions in 1985 and 1986. As of April 2026, he sits on the board of the Hall of Fame of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and is a member of The Society of Illustrators in New York City. He takes a very research-focused approach, with great attention to detail and emphasis on the drawing phase. He calls himself an “artistrator”. Lewis says that if a project that he is working on takes place in a specific place, he will go to that place to photograph and observe the subject. He says that in this style, he is “writing with pictures”.

Works E.B. Lewis has illustrated more than seventy books for children. The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes is one of his most well-known collaborations. Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson is another notable work by Lewis.

Awards and honors

1996 ALA Notable Children's Book Award for Alice Schertle's Down the Road 2004 Caldecott Honor Award Winner, Jacqueline Woodson's Coming on Home Soon 2006 - Charlotte Zolotow Award for My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman 2009 - Orbis Picture Award Winner for The Secret World of Walter Anderson by Hester Bass 2013 - Charlotte Zolotow Award Winner for Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson