The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Topeka’s nonprofit children’s museum, will host an art exhibit in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children's Books will open to the public on Friday, May 3 at 9 a.m. following an opening reception the evening of May 1. The exhibit will be open from May 3 to August 11, 2024 and is included in the cost of regular admission.

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children’s Books delves into the events, people, and themes of the civil rights movement through children’s literature. The original exhibition was curated by award-winning children’s book author Andrea Davis Pinkney as a collaboration between the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center will host the exhibit in reproduction as a collection of compelling prints that evoke the power and continuing relevance of the era that shaped American history and continues to reverberate today. Visitors to the exhibit will experience:

• A collection of more than 70 works from 55 different children’s books telling the story of the civil rights movement. Artwork depicts Brown v. Board and other key historical events up to the modern era. Many of the pieces show events from the perspectives of children.
• An interactive mural created by local artists Aisha Imani Sanaa and Vivian Wilson Bluett. The artists worked with local children to design and paint the mural, which is displayed in movable tiles to allow visitors to design and redesign the artwork.
• A praxinoscope animation tool that allows children to see the connection between drawing, animation, and storytelling. Artwork for the praxinoscope was created by local artist Dané Shobe.
• A reading and reflection area featuring the exhibit’s books and work from local author Dayonne Richardson.
• An art creation station allowing children to add their own drawings to the exhibit.
• A program series featuring local and regional artists, including poet Annette Billings and the artists featured in the exhibit.

The opening reception on Wednesday, May 1 will bring a number of local and national dignitaries to the museum. Dr. Beryl A. New of the Kansas African American Affairs Coalition will emcee the event, which will include remarks from Arthur Affleck, Executive Director of the Association of Children’s Museums based in Washington D.C. The evening will include a musical performance by the International Academy of Bright Stars choir and poetry from acclaimed author Annette Billings.

About the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center: The Discovery Center is a hands-on children’s museum with a mission to enhance the lives of children and enrich the communities it serves. Since opening in 2011 in Topeka, Kansas, the Discovery Center has become a special place where children can explore, create, discover and learn through play. The museum features over 15,000 square feet of indoor exhibits and a 4.5 acre certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. Outreach programs bring quality, hands-on experiences into our community to inspire a lifelong love of learning for every child. More than 950,000 visitors from 23 countries have visited the Discovery Center. Learn more at www.kansasdiscovery.org.