Shane Evans was sitting on a train in Japan three years ago when he had ideas for two characters. He turned the ideas into paintings as soon as he arrived home in Kansas City.

In the next few years, he developed the characters into strong, determined narrators of his illustrated children’s book, “Underground,” which follows the emotionally powerful journey of a family of slaves finding freedom.

The book, which was released last year, recently earned him the 2012 Coretta Scott King Book Award, which honors African-American authors and illustrators of children’s books.

The news stunned and humbled Evans, who said having children understand his book’s message was already a reward itself.

“I wanted to show human beings coming together and assisting people to freedom,” he said. “We are all part of this American story, and the theme is still relevant today because there are always going to be people who don’t feel free in society. The movement never really begins or ends.”

Evan’s passion for educating children through storytelling began while he was a greeting-card illustrator for Hallmark. The upstate New York native caught the attention of publishing companies, who requested his illustrations for children’s books. Three years ago, he published his own story, “Olu’s Dream,” about a little boy’s big imagination.

It’s a story Evans is currently turning into a musical. He is also busy promoting his latest book, “We March,” which revolves around Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic march on Washington in 1963.

Evans also conducts art workshops for children around the world. The financially struggling children in Africa, the homeland of his ancestors, tug at his heartstrings.

“Art is necessary for the development of children,” he said. “Helping these kids has changed the direction of my life and put me on a path.”

At the end of the day, Evans says he isn’t really sure who learns the most: the kids he teaches or himself. Either way, he feels lucky for being able to make a difference.

“I’m a child at heart, and I can remember things that gave me joy and things that hurt,” he said. “Sometimes a child will share something with me that will one day find itself into a book. Those are the people who inspire me the most.”