I have a soft spot for beautiful graphic art. And I plan to buy this children’s book — for myself — so I can savor the illustrations (as well as the words).

“A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader” contains short pieces by authors and other notable people describing how books have enriched their lives. Each of the 121 entries has an illustration by a different artist. (See sample below.)

Another incentive to buy this book: all proceeds benefit the New York Public Library.

Among the contributors: scientist Jane Goodall and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. TV producer Shonda Rhimes. Writers Ursula K. Le Guin, Mary Oliver, and Neil Gaiman; Anne Lamott, Tim Ferriss and Ann Patchett,

The book was co-edited by Maria Popova, who writes the brilliant Brain Pickings” website I’ve been reading for years. She, her co-editor Claudia Bedrick and all the other contributors donated their time.

I developed a love of graphic illustration early in my career working at “National Geographic” under its late, great art director. I recall one fun evening when a group of us attended a lecture by Maurice Sendak at the Smithsonian. At Howard’s doing, we all stood up wearing masks from characters in Sendak’s wildly famous children’s picture book “Where the Wild Things Are.”

A week ago I bought Susan Orleans’ “The Library Book,” which I look forward to reading over the holidays.

What a nice gift package these two new books would make for book lovers.

Here’s a sample of the art from “A Velocity of Being. See more examples here.

Art by Vladimir Radunsky for a letter by Ann Patchett in “A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader” (Source: Brain Pickings website)

Art by Lara Hawthorne for a letter by Jacqueline Woodson in “A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader” (Source: Brain Pickings website)

Art by Kenard Pak for a letter by Terry Teachout in “A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader” (Source: Brain Pickings website)