March will be an exciting month for Baltimore-area book lovers. Jodi Picoult comes to town, and there’s a party marking Laura Lippman’s new book. First, let’s note some unsung heroes -- illustrators who are crucial to setting the mood for a story, but usually live in the authors' shadow. Starting this week, you can celebrate the work of great illustrators who made you smile as a kid (and who probably made your own kids smile, too).

Tomorrow, the Enoch Pratt’s Central Library opens Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books. The show, which runs through May 9, features 60 original illustrations from Little Golden Books. Included is one of my favorites: Gustaf Tenggren’s The Poky Little Puppy. An opening reception will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Poe Room; it’s free to the public. Information: 410-396-5430.

On Thursday, take a look at JT Waldman’s reinterpretation of the biblical story of Esther in a contemporary form: the graphic novel. The original drawings for his book, Megillat Esther, are featured in a new exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Maryland. The show will be open during the museum’s Purim party from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday; Waldman will be there, too. The public opening is next Sunday, March 8. Information: 410-732-6400.

As for authors, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Tavis Smiley will speak in a town hall format at the Pratt’s Central Library about his book, Accountable: Making America as Good as Its Promise.

On March 10, Jodi Picoult will hold a discussion and book signing at Digital Harbor High School, 1100 Covington Street, starting at 7 p.m. Information: 410-385-1709.

That same night, at 7 p.m. at Pratt’s Central Library, local author Laura Lippman will launch her new book, Life Sentences. It’s billed as a mystery involving a woman accused of killing her infant son.