Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/01/2024 K-Gr 4—George Washington did not like to sit still. Fortunately, portrait painter Gilbert Stuart didn't need him to. In fact, Stuart would joke and tell stories and let his subjects walk around the room, and even invite family and friends to join them. Washington's stern expression and pinched mouth (due to his infamous ill-fitting false teeth), for example, went from "glum to glad" when Stuart realized he loved to talk about horses. Stuart painted portraits of many luminaries (lords and ladies, admirals and artists, diplomats and dignitaries), but by far the most famous one was of Washington, which became the basis for the engraving used on the dollar bill. Expressive language and delightful acrylic, pencil, and digital illustrations, which include images from actual portraits, combine to make a lively and interesting biography of a painter and a glimpse into a little-known event in the life of the first president. The book includes a time line, information on Washington's dental woes, an explanation of why the image on the dollar bill is reversed from the original portrait, a bibliography, and source notes. VERDICT Pair this with a traditional biography of Washington for a refreshing look into the legacy of both the president and the painter. Highly recommended.—Sue Morgan - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2024 *Starred Review* The face that stares out a bit grimly from the one-dollar bill is, of course, that of George Washington, and this rollicking story centers on how, in 1796, the famous portrait painter Gilbert Stuart got around Washington’s massively bad mood to produce this iconic painting. As Albee points out, part of the problem was that, thanks to a brand-new, poorly fitting set of false teeth, the first president’s teeth and jaw ached throughout the long sittings. Readers get two character portraits here: that of impatient, action-oriented Washington and that of the freewheeling Stuart, who broke from the “sit still” school of portraitists and encouraged his subjects to eat and drink, roam around the room, and socialize with family and friends. The illustrations, done with acrylics and pencils, have a whimsical, cutout quality, with swirling brushstrokes in the background emulating Stuart’s signature brushwork and putting the emphasis on the characters, while occasional sidebars convey a wealth of historical information. Readers will gain an appreciation of the arduous art of portrait painting, with the added humor of Stuart’s psychological tricks. Extensive back matter includes time lines for both Washington’s and Stuart’s lives, a chronicle of Washington’s tooth troubles, and a bibliography. A captivating exploration of the making of one of history’s most famous portraits. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.