Sometimes a book, or even just a line, chapter or passage within a book can stick with us long after we’ve read its final page. We asked some of our favorite community members to tell us about a book that’s had a meaningful impact on them.

Diana Duran Moreno | Artist & Illustrator

The book that instantly came to mind when I saw this question is “Oriental Mythology” by Joseph Campbell, and I mention this one not to mention several others I have read by the same author, all of them of equal importance to me. I dare to say that this author changed my vision of the world forever, he made me very fascinated by mythology and everything that surrounds this beautiful phenomenon that allows humans to tell and explore their origin, their destiny and their end. Read more>>

Marcus Whitaker | Artist

The Alchemist. It brought me to innerstanding that everything that happens in life is to bring us closer to our heart space. the more we move in love, the more love comes to us. that’s it + so much more. enjoy the read again & again & again. Read more>>

Kingsley Osei | Teacher, Author, Poet and Philanthropist

Growing up and throughout my high school years, I was an avid fan of the work of the late greats Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Books such as Sula, Beloved, and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings were stories that did a phenomenal job of revealing the complexities of Black Lives. It also entailed the African American struggle and vividly painted a picture for the reader from a woman’s point of view. This, however, fascinated me in many ways during my teen years. As a result, I was very interested in books like these. Read more>>

Makeda Parchman-Brown | Illustrator & Creative

I think the best book I ever read was “Bad Case of Stripes.” that is the most creative book I ever laid my eyes on. The one that probably reeled me into the world of Illustration and Literature. I was drawn into the colors; the shapes and storytelling and I wanted my art to be a reflection of the story I wanted to tell. Anyone can pick up a pencil and draw a picture but what is that picture conveying without an explanation? Does it make you think? Does it make feel? I want my art to stir the mind and the heart. I want people to be able to draw intellectual conclusions by gathering every detail of what they see, from what I created. Read more>>