Lynne Cherry exhibition brings decades of environmental storytelling to Harris Center

For generations of readers, Lynne Cherry's illustrations have served as an introduction to forests, rivers and wildlife long before they ever stepped into those places themselves. Beginning Aug. 3, visitors to the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock will have the opportunity to experience that artwork in a new way as the center presents Lynne Cherry: New & Old Art, an exhibition featuring original illustrations and paintings spanning more than five decades of Cherry's career. The exhibition will remain on view through Aug. 31 in the Harris Center's Thelma Babbitt Room, with an opening reception, artist talk and book signing scheduled for Aug. 6. While Cherry is best known as the author and illustrator of more than 30 award-winning children's books — including the New York Times bestsellers "The Great Kapok Tree" and "A River Ran Wild" — the exhibition also offers visitors a broader look at how illustration, science and storytelling have shaped her work throughout her career. "The art in this exhibit, much of it from my children's books, celebrates the beauty and wonder of the natural world, so these images dovetail perfectly with the goals and programs of the Harris Center," Cherry said. For the Harris Center, which is widely known for its land conservation, wildlife research and environmental education programs, the exhibition represents another way of helping people engage with the natural world. "At the Harris Center, we believe people are most likely to care for the natural world when they develop a personal connection to it," said Michelle Aldredge, communications director for the Harris Center for Conservation Education. "Science helps us understand how ecosystems work, education gives people the knowledge and confidence to engage with nature, and art and storytelling help transform that knowledge into something emotional and lasting. Lynne Cherry's work sits at the intersection of all three." That intersection has defined much of Cherry's career. Her books have been classroom staples for decades, introducing children to ecosystems through richly detailed illustrations and stories grounded in scientific research. Among her best-known works is "The Great Kapok Tree," which follows a woodcutter who falls asleep beneath a towering rainforest tree while the animals around him explain why the forest is essential to their survival. The book's detailed illustrations of tropical wildlife have made it one of Cherry's most recognized works, and it continues to be adapted into school plays and classroom activities. Another of her best-known books, "A River Ran Wild," traces the history of the Nashua River from its pristine beginnings through the pollution of the Industrial Revolution and its eventual restoration through the efforts of environmental advocate Marion Stoddart. The story introduces readers to both environmental challenges and community-led restoration efforts. Cherry said many of her books were created to introduce readers to ecosystems they might never have the chance to visit in person. "I wrote three of my books to introduce children (and their parents) to ecosystems that were endangered: the tropical rain forest, the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest, and the mangroves," she said. "And books, such as 'Flute's Journey,' show the magic of the eastern deciduous forests through the perspective of a migrating wood thrush. In Joanne Ryder's 'The Snail's Spell and Chipmunk Song," a child imagines themselves shrinking down to the size of a small creature and experiencing nature's microcosm." According to Aldredge, that storytelling has always been supported by extensive scientific research. "Her illustrations are not only beautiful — they're also meticulously researched," Aldredge said. "For each of her books, Lynne has completed artist residencies with organizations connected to the subject matter. While creating 'The Great Kapok Tree,' for example, she was artist-in-residence at the World Wildlife Fund, where a leading rainforest biologist reviewed her work for scientific accuracy. During her 2024 residency at the Harris Center, she worked on a new book about land conservation and the inspiring role children have played in protecting large tracts of land." Cherry's own career has combined art, science and education across a wide range of institutions. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art, a bachelor's degree from Temple University and a master's degree in history from Yale University, later receiving an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Her artist residencies have included Princeton University, Cornell University, the Smithsonian Institution, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and, most recently, the Harris Center. She is currently an artist-in-residence with Earth Commons at Georgetown University. In addition to her books, Cherry produced and directed 13 award-winning "Young Voices for the Planet" films, which highlight environmental projects led by young people and encourage youth engagement through stories centered on solutions. The Harris Center exhibition also offers visitors a more personal look at Cherry's artistic journey. "When I give talks, kids always ask me when I started writing and drawing," Cherry said. "I think people are generally intrigued about how I got started. I was writing and illustrating little children's books when I was as young as 8 years old. I will have some of these to show while I'm giving my talk. In the exhibit there is a sketch for my first paid job — painting a wall mural for my local swim club in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. This wide chronological span of my work shows my appreciation of plants, flowers, animals and the natural world and how my drawing ability evolved and improved." Rather than focusing on a single project, the exhibition brings together artwork from across Cherry's career, allowing visitors to see both familiar illustrations from her published books and original works that trace the development of her artistic style over time. For visitors who grew up reading Cherry's books, the exhibition offers an opportunity to revisit familiar stories through the original artwork. For others, it provides an introduction to an illustrator whose work has long blended environmental education with visual storytelling. Cherry said she hopes seeing the original pieces in person leaves visitors with more than an appreciation for the artwork itself. "I hope that this exhibit reaches people on a more visceral and emotional level and helps them develop a love and reverence for the wonders of nature, thereby inspiring young and old to take action to help protect what is left of the wild world," she said.