mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful biography of the world-acclaimed sculptor, Louise Bourgeois. The fact that the illustrations are by Isabelle Arsenault is enough to give it 5 starts itself but fortunately, Novesky plays cleverly with the biographical narrative by weaving in allusions to spinning stories and memories through the fabric of the tale - a clever metaphor for how Louise Bourgeois envisioned her own mother. An interesting companion book to [b:Sophie's Masterpiece: A Spider's Tale|401035|Sophie's Masterpiece A Spider's Tale|Eileen Spinelli|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348589266s/401035.jpg|1281006]
ruthailuj's review against another edition
5.0
Isabelle Arsenault's illustrations make my heart quicken. This is yet another book illustrated by her that I have fallen in love with. The lines she draws sing to me. They harmonize along with the story told by Amy Novensky about Louise Bourgeois.
I am pulled into the artists journey through her childhood to adulthood and eventually the sculptures that she would create.
This book evokes her in full spirit. The combination of story & quotes; the colors & lines that mimic Louise's own work.
I am inspired.
[bc:Jane, the Fox, and Me|17214302|Jane, the Fox, and Me|Fanny Britt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361785734s/17214302.jpg|23697965]
[bc:Virginia Wolf|29812461|Virginia Wolf|Isabelle Arsenault & Kyo Maclear|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459935723s/29812461.jpg|50181261]
[bc:Once Upon a Northern Night|17214300|Once Upon a Northern Night|Jean E. Pendziwol|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1365127956s/17214300.jpg|23697963]
[bc:My Letter to the World and Other Poems|4293624|My Letter to the World and Other Poems|Emily Dickinson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396839952s/4293624.jpg|4341206]
I am pulled into the artists journey through her childhood to adulthood and eventually the sculptures that she would create.
This book evokes her in full spirit. The combination of story & quotes; the colors & lines that mimic Louise's own work.
I am inspired.
[bc:Jane, the Fox, and Me|17214302|Jane, the Fox, and Me|Fanny Britt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361785734s/17214302.jpg|23697965]
[bc:Virginia Wolf|29812461|Virginia Wolf|Isabelle Arsenault & Kyo Maclear|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459935723s/29812461.jpg|50181261]
[bc:Once Upon a Northern Night|17214300|Once Upon a Northern Night|Jean E. Pendziwol|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1365127956s/17214300.jpg|23697963]
[bc:My Letter to the World and Other Poems|4293624|My Letter to the World and Other Poems|Emily Dickinson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396839952s/4293624.jpg|4341206]
shanny1366's review against another edition
3.0
The illustrations are absolutely lovely, and the text is poetic. The whole book gives off a very soothing tone. However, I was not familiar with Louise Bourgeois, and the book didn't do much to let me know who she was. If you don't go in knowing much about the artist, it just seems like a nice story about a little girl. The author's note in the back gives some good information, but I feel like I would have gotten more out of the story if I had read that first.
luckyliza13's review against another edition
5.0
Quirky and artsy, I loved this book! It's a beautiful way to introduce kids to the art of tapestry. The story is a poetic ode to the artist & her mother. I need this book.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
2.0
This picture book biography has lovely illustrations, but the written content is profoundly bizarre. The text jumps from one thing to another much too rapidly, without the author building on or explaining anything she has just said. Most egregiously, she suddenly declares that Louise was so depressed because of her father's constant traveling for business that she threw herself into the river next to their home. The author then rushes ahead to her next, unrelated thought, without stopping to unpack any of that.
I wondered if this was an actual suicide attempt, or if it was an attention-seeking cry for help to convince her dad to stay home more. I have no idea, since the author didn't think this warranted an explanation, but either way, I don't think it's an appropriate thing to offhandedly mention in a children's book. There are also unexpected large pictures of spider art near the end of the book. The author leans heavily on spider metaphors throughout, so I wasn't totally surprised, but there's nothing in the title or book description to suggest that this artist was better known for her spider models than her work with textiles, and the spiders will creep out some unsuspecting children and adults.
Although the apparent suicide attempt is the most disturbing thing, there are lots of other weird elements in the book, and it's never fully clear what art Louise Bourgeois was best-known for until the author's note at the end. The book jumps from scattered thought to scattered thought, all drenched in metaphor, without properly introducing Bourgeois's childhood (aside from the bizarre elements), later life, career, or legacy. This doesn't do any of the things that a picture book biography is supposed to do, and just dazzles adults with Art, Metaphor, and Scattered Bizarre Thoughts.
I wondered if this was an actual suicide attempt, or if it was an attention-seeking cry for help to convince her dad to stay home more. I have no idea, since the author didn't think this warranted an explanation, but either way, I don't think it's an appropriate thing to offhandedly mention in a children's book. There are also unexpected large pictures of spider art near the end of the book. The author leans heavily on spider metaphors throughout, so I wasn't totally surprised, but there's nothing in the title or book description to suggest that this artist was better known for her spider models than her work with textiles, and the spiders will creep out some unsuspecting children and adults.
Although the apparent suicide attempt is the most disturbing thing, there are lots of other weird elements in the book, and it's never fully clear what art Louise Bourgeois was best-known for until the author's note at the end. The book jumps from scattered thought to scattered thought, all drenched in metaphor, without properly introducing Bourgeois's childhood (aside from the bizarre elements), later life, career, or legacy. This doesn't do any of the things that a picture book biography is supposed to do, and just dazzles adults with Art, Metaphor, and Scattered Bizarre Thoughts.
michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written and the illustrations just flow along with the text perfectly.
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
4.0
Picture book biography of a very very unique individual. If I were to guess I would say this artist qualified as an "highly sensitive person" or at least was perceived to be that way by the author and the book highlights her often negative emotions that fortunately get channeled into her art.
despina284's review against another edition
4.0
Such an intriguing and interesting concept for a picture book.