Wil Clay books:

1991 Tailypo!

In his first picture book, Clay provides dramatic double-spread paintings for Wahl's lively retelling of this scariest of African-American tales. Kirkus Reviews. Full-color illustrations.

Clay's pictures are done in acrylic shades that shift from warm fire-tones like orange and pink to cold, crisp blues and purples. They create a scary and highly graphic accompaniment to this succinctly retold African-American tale. … Because of Clay's illustrations, this new offering is not for the squeamish. Marianne Pilla, formerly at Upper Dublin Public Library, Dresher, PA School Library Journal

1992 Little Eight John

Clay's loosely rendered images of a rural African American household... places Little Eight John's expressive face in the sharpest focus, ensuring that the reader's attention will remain focused, too. Publishers Weekly

As he did in Tailypo! (Holt, 1991), Clay has effectively used acrylics to create artwork that is glowing and realistic with hints of impressionism. His illustrations are notable for his characters' expressive faces. The use of inset pictures, various perspectives and point of view, as well as interesting visual effects, are unusual and an excellent extension of the text. Andrew W. Hunter, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC School Library Journal

1993 The Real McCoy

Clay tones down the dynamism he exhibited in Little Eight John to paint sturdy, luminous images of McCoy in action. Publishers Weekly

The acrylic illustrations are vibrant and full of details that reflect McCoy's years of hard work. Christine A. Moesch, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY School Library Journal

1991 213 Valentines    1992 Themba

1996 The House in the Sky

Through animated facial expressions and lively gestures, Clay's (Little Eight John) acrylic paintings supercharge the well-crafted text. Publishers Weekly

Clay's illustrations, done in acrylic on canvas, glow with Caribbean warmth, and his spirit-folk are satisfyingly frightening. Wearing fierce headdresses, they are hairy with long claws and backwards feet-an image that will be fascinatingly weird to children. Boukee's roguishly expressive face is wide-eyed as he hides underneath the giants' bed and as butter drips foolishly out from under his hat. Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT School Library Journal

Clay's paintings depict an environment as colorful as the characters who populate it. Facial expressions are both exaggerated and obvious, and effective placement of the characters' hands and generous use of highlights add a robust liveliness to the visual interpretation. Janice Del Negro Booklist

1997 I Am Rosa Parks

Clay's paintings, some of them based on famous photographs, capture the segregation scene and the fight to end it. Booklist

2001 Auntee Edna

Clay's acrylics-on-canvas illustrations positively glow with superb detail, texture, and light. Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA School Library Journal

2008 A Man for All Seasons: The Life of George Washington Carver

Clay's full-page acrylic portraits exhibit both action and individual expression. Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX School Library Journal

Clay's often handsome paintings do a good job of showing Carver aging throughout the book while remaining recognizably the same person. Carolyn Phelan Booklist