On November 16, NIM celebrated a newly forged partnership with famed children's book illustrator E.B. Lewis by hosting children from Childspace Day Care Center at the first E.B. Lewis Reading Corner in NIM's Early Learning Resource Centerin West Mt. Airy. NIM will open a second E.B. Lewis Reading Corner at its West Philadelphia Resource Center (4117 Lancaster Ave) and plans to follow up with a third in Northeast Philadelphia.

The E.B. Lewis Reading Corners are part of a larger partnership that NIM has created with the renowned illustrator, in conjunction with Richard Rosenfeld and The Rosenfeld Gallery in Old City. Interim Director Bessie Jordan-Byrd explained that the new partnership will help NIM excite local children about reading and encourage them to ask their parents to read with them. Jordan-Byrd explained, "E.B. Lewis' work has inspired children for many years to embrace diversity and to love themselves regardless of their situation. We are excited to present to the city of Philadelphia in recognition of National Family Literacy Month our new E.B. Lewis Reading Corners and to have Mr. Lewis himself read to local children."

Five time Coretta Scott King Honor recipient E.B. Lewis has illustrated more than fifty books for children, including 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman authored by Nikki Grimes and Alice Schertle's Down the Road, an ALA Notable Book.

NIM and E.B. Lewis are also partnering with The Rosenfeld Gallery for the opening of Lewis' show on January 8, 2012 titled Lotto Icons. Lewis' evocative, unforgettable body of work depicts children painted on international lottery cards, with gold leaf covering them. The gold leaf is partially scratched away, partly revealing the children - iconic images scratched and haunting. A portion of proceeds from the show will benefit NIM.