Two barefoot children read and play on the patio of one of Naperville’s award-winning libraries, the southwest corner of the Nichols Library on Jefferson Avenue. Created by renowned Utah artist, Dennis Smith, Reading Children typifies the artists style of figurative realism, which focuses on gestural spontaneity and expressing the vivacity of life.

According to Smith, the children in this piece are symbolic of the part of the human spirit which takes itself lightly. They become the metaphor for our greatest aspirations and our dreams which often fades as we mature. Sculptor Dennis Smith often features children in his work, capturing their spontaneity and naivety as they discover their surrounding world.