  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2015 Gr 3–5—Art with a capital A leaps from every page of this gorgeous picture book biography, but in the end, readers are left with a muddled view of Mary Cassatt. Combining gouache, watercolors, acrylics, enamel, and tempera, Swiatkowska presents a visually arresting view of the artist's life. Most of the illustrations are spreads with thickly layered backgrounds. Small splashes of bright colors or textures let images stand out from muted backdrops. The black and gray scenes of Cassatt's childhood give way to lighter tones for the ones that take place after she was able to go to Paris to further her studies. As Herkert describes how Cassatt grew as an artist, the palette becomes brighter and less oppressive. Images from Cassatt's paintings appear throughout, but there is no guide or listing. Those unfamiliar with Cassatt may be confused when a version of Rembrandt's Syndics of the Clothmakers' Guild is adapted in one spread or when Edgar Degas's The Ballet Class and L'Absinthe are used in others. While having kids identify the different works could be a great extension for art classes, the approach is somewhat sophisticated for younger children. While Swiatkowska's artistic expression is impressive, it does not fully extend the text and contribute to readers' understanding of Cassatt's artistry. Quotations from Cassatt's letters provide glimpses into her feelings about painting, but without more context, readers may have trouble appreciating Cassatt's larger significance in the art world. VERDICT Useful as a supplemental resource, but not essential for every collection.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 11/01/2015 Cassatt made a splash when she showed her paintings in Paris—her domestic scenes of women painted in bright colors and luminous patches of white caught the attention of Edgar Degas, who invited her to join the Impressionists. Herkert’s concise lines highlight major points in Cassatt’s life, from being first in line to enroll in art school at 16 to her fateful meeting with the Impressionists, when she said her life truly began. In these moments, Herkert never misses an opportunity to emphasize Cassatt’s opinionated, determined personality, which is a valuable takeaway for young readers. While the text occasionally uses vocabulary that will challenge the typical picture-book audience, Swiatkowska’s lush paintings beautifully evoke Cassatt’s signature style. In a saturated color palette smeared with bright white, Swiatkowska’s paintings show some of Cassatt’s iconic figures, such as a woman bathing her child in a washtub and a young girl lounging in a chair, with her own smudgy spin. Little ones fresh off a museum visit will likely appreciate this warm introduction to a pioneering artist. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Loading...
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