You Matter & The Ragpicker
You Matter, written and illustrated by Christian Robinson; Édouard Manet (French, 1832–1883), The Ragpicker, c. 1865–1870, oil on canvas, The Norton Simon Foundation
Featured Book: You Matter, written and illustrated by Christian Robinson
Featured Artwork: The Ragpicker, by Édouard Manet
In You Matter, author and illustrator Christian Robinson shows how everyone is connected and that, no matter what, you matter because you exist in this world.
In The Ragpicker, Édouard Manet (French, 1832–1883) elevates a humble rag collector with a life-size portrait, a format usually reserved for wealthier patrons. Ragpickers searched through people's trash for old rags to sell to paper manufacturers. They were also part of a distinct society and were important to daily life as recyclers of city waste.
Inspired by You Matter and The Ragpicker, write a list of things that you love about yourself and make an artwork inspired by how you matter in this world.
If you don’t have access to the featured book, select something similar from your child’s book shelf or your local library. Many of the books are also available as read-aloud videos online.