“PATH TO THE MOON”: This watercolor painting by Lori Fol is featured in “Jump into Pictures,” on view through August 26 at West Windsor Arts. An opening reception is on July 21 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The “Jump into Pictures” art show at West Windsor Arts celebrates the vibrant world of children’s book illustrations and includes fun activities everyone can participate in. The exhibition is on view through August 26, with a free opening reception on Friday, July 21 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Before children learn to speak, they discover and understand the world around them through lights, colors, and sounds in graphical motion. Children’s books play an important role in shaping a child into the adult they will become. As parents patiently teach their kids their first words, they reach for the illustrations in baby books to relate a word to a picture. With their curiosity piqued, children devour picture books and simple stories while connecting to their daily lives. As they grow, so do the illustrations, from depicting the mundane to showcasing abstract new ideas.

Artists featured in this exhibition include Ilene Dube, Lori Fol, Marzena Haupa, Mita Karnik, Eleni Litt, Deborah Pey, Kate Pollack, Georgina Ramirez, Jane Reed, and Rupa Sanbui. Jurors Rashad Malik Davis and Kelly Lan have work in the show as well.

Fol says of her dreamy painting Path to the Moon, “Oliver Bunbabbitt, or Olive B, as his friends call him, feels that the moon cannot really be so far away. All he has to do is find the right way to get there.” She reveals the inspiration for her art, saying, “I have a deep love of the moon. In fact, Moon is my family nickname, so I depict it in many of my works. It is surprising that even though this piece is focused around the moon, it does not appear in it. It is the journey, and how it is accomplished, that matters.”

“THE STORM ARRIVES”: This acrylic on canvas work by Jane Reed is part of “Jump into Pictures,” on view through August 26 at West Windsor Arts. The exhibition celebrates children’s book illustrations.

Reed’s improvisatory artistic process uses color and movement to capture a child’s point of view in her painting, The Storm Arrives. Reed said that her intention for this piece was to portray “the beauty and unpredictability of nature. Especially for a child, this is a new experience. We don’t know if she “sees” or imagines the boat. I want the action/narrative to express that, as she reaches for her hat, she knows she must act. It’s time for her to join her family and keep the memory with her.”

Exhibition juror Davis is an award-winning author, illustrator, and entrepreneur currently pursuing his dream through RaMalik Illustrations. He loves to explore themes of magic, the mystical, empathy, and diversity in a fun and humorous way. Juror Lan is a Taiwanese American designer and founder of Hello Prosper, an arts education brand empowering the youth through storytelling. Her work amplifies the rich experiences and intersections of Asian and Western culture. She said she loves diving into topics about identity and belonging, especially through the historical and cultural lens.

The West Windsor Arts Exhibition Committee members, all volunteers, have created some engaging opportunities as part of this show. Visitors are encouraged to dress up as their favorite children’s book character and bring a copy of the book with them to the opening reception or any Saturday during the show between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Guests can then add their photo to the “Favorite Book Character Frame.” There will also be an “I Spy – Jump into Pictures” game that will challenge all ages.

West Windsor Arts is located at 952 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction. For more information and gallery hours, visit westwindsorarts.org, call (609) 716-1931, or email info@westwindsorarts.org.