pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
Here's an opportunity to praise an editor. Christy Ottaviano at Henry Holt must have been the one who paired Gabi Swiatkowska with Barbara Herkert's picture book script about Mary Cassatt - at the very least, she's the one who signed off on it. And it's a genius matchup. Here's why.
My review is on unadulterated.us: http://www.unadulterated.us/pink-me/2015/11/mary-cassatt-extraordinary-impressionist-painter-by-barbara-herkert-and-gabi-swiatkowska-review.html
My review is on unadulterated.us: http://www.unadulterated.us/pink-me/2015/11/mary-cassatt-extraordinary-impressionist-painter-by-barbara-herkert-and-gabi-swiatkowska-review.html
nerfherder86's review against another edition
3.0
Paintings in gouache, watercolor, acrylic, enamel and tempera, a real mixed media--but they definitely imitate Mary Cassatt's style of work. The book is mostly about her life as painter, does not focus on her childhood, just that she knew she wanted to be an artist since childhood, and that she was "temperamental" and determined to succeed at it. Born in Pennsylvania but moved to Europe to study and live. Book includes list of sources, but direct quotations are not sourced.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
While describing Cassatt’s youth, the author states the following:
Mary grew up tall
and temperamental,
the map of her fate
etched in her mind.
The picture book goes on to describe how Mary forged her own path to achieve fame.
Mary grew up tall
and temperamental,
the map of her fate
etched in her mind.
The picture book goes on to describe how Mary forged her own path to achieve fame.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe because I've been reading so many picture-book biographies of women, my expectations were too high..but, the details of her life were....lifeless. I love Cassatt, but never felt like the author and illustrator found her heart and passion...
cweichel's review
5.0
This book is a decadent visual and lyrical treat. It begs to be read out loud. Here is an example of the lush language: "Mary grew up tall and temperamental, the map of her fate etched in her mind.'"Mary swept jewel tones across her canvas. She rendered cropped angles, sparkling light."
Cassatt was influenced by Degas, and other impressionists. With their encouragement and support, she came into her own as a painter who "celebrated mothers and their babies in her paintings."
Gabi Swiatkowska's illustrations, in the impressionist style, are a rich accompaniment to the text. From the first page I was halfway in love with this book. It just got better.
Cassatt was influenced by Degas, and other impressionists. With their encouragement and support, she came into her own as a painter who "celebrated mothers and their babies in her paintings."
Gabi Swiatkowska's illustrations, in the impressionist style, are a rich accompaniment to the text. From the first page I was halfway in love with this book. It just got better.
tashrow's review
4.0
In 1860, girls did not become artists, but Mary knew exactly what she wanted to do. She enrolled in art school and then moved abroad despite her father’s protests. She copied the masters in The Louvre and lingered outside gallery windows. Art judges disliked her style, but she found herself welcomed to the group of independent artists by Degas himself. Soon she was painting exactly the way she liked and capturing life around her in her art.
Herkert tells the story of Mary Cassatt’s life with such poetic brevity. Her brief lines add to the energetic feel of the book, capturing the tremendous focus and passion of Cassatt herself with their tone. Herkert says things simply as they were and are. She states frankly the expectations of women in that time period, the way that the art institutions rejected Cassatt and the place the Cassatt found support and her own voice.
The illustrations by Swiatkowska pay homage to Cassatt’s own work. Done in a variety of media with gouache, watercolors, acrylics, enamel and tempera, the illustrations have a richness that has a vintage feel about it and focuses on capturing the society that Cassatt lived in and moments in her life.
A beautiful nugget of a picture book biography, this is an inspiring look at a woman who refused to be defined by society and instead lived a life all her own. Appropriate for ages 7-9.
Herkert tells the story of Mary Cassatt’s life with such poetic brevity. Her brief lines add to the energetic feel of the book, capturing the tremendous focus and passion of Cassatt herself with their tone. Herkert says things simply as they were and are. She states frankly the expectations of women in that time period, the way that the art institutions rejected Cassatt and the place the Cassatt found support and her own voice.
The illustrations by Swiatkowska pay homage to Cassatt’s own work. Done in a variety of media with gouache, watercolors, acrylics, enamel and tempera, the illustrations have a richness that has a vintage feel about it and focuses on capturing the society that Cassatt lived in and moments in her life.
A beautiful nugget of a picture book biography, this is an inspiring look at a woman who refused to be defined by society and instead lived a life all her own. Appropriate for ages 7-9.
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