Gilchrist’s first children’s book, CHILDREN OF LONG AGO, written by Lessie Jones Little (1988) won the Peoples’ Choice Award. She has illustrated over seventy-three award-winning books for children since then.

Gilchrist’s illustrations and fine art works are held in many collections both public and private. Two prestigious collections holding her work are, the de Grummond Collection, University of Southern Mississippi and the Kerlan Collections, University of Minnesota

Outstanding features and reviews of her work have appeared in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Defender, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, L.A Times and US Today, Chicago Sun-times (Kup’s Column) and Ebony Magazine, as well as television and radio.

Books by Jan Spivey Gilchrist

The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can

Written by Tererai Trent with illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist - Autobiography, Children's Nonfiction, Picture