Synopses & Reviews
and#160;
Diego Rivera offers young readers unique insight into the life and artwork of the famous Mexican painter and muralist. The book follows Riveraandrsquo;s career, looking at his influences and tracing the evolution of his style. His work often called attention to the culture and struggles of the Mexican working class. Believing that art should be for the people, he created public murals in both the United States and Mexico, examples of which are included. The book contains a list of museums where you can see Riveraandrsquo;s art, a historical note, a glossary, and a bibliography.
Praise for Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People
STARRED REVIEWS
andquot;With engaging prose that is beautifully illustrated with Diego Riveraandrsquo;s paintings and murals, this spacious volume introduces the great Mexican artist to young people. Accompanied by crisply reproduced color images of both the bright, minutely detailed murals as well as archival photos of the artist at work, the accessible account discusses how Diego constructed his art...andquot;
--Booklist, starred review
andquot;The stunning illustrations include images of Riveraandrsquo;s murals, his andldquo;cartoonandrdquo; drawings, reproductions of art that he found influential, and photographs. The design, with scrollwork along the top and bottom and an unusual placement of page numbers, exudes style. The text is clearly written, straightforward, and attention-grabbing, with a good number of quotes interspersed throughout.andquot;
--School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;A carefully researched, cogently argued and handsomely produced appreciation.andquot;
--Kirkus Reviews
andquot;There is life to these pages, and breadth to its subject. Short enough to reward a wary reader but with enough context and clarity to bring Diego to life, Rubin takes a tricky guy for kids to know about and makes him precisely what he was: bigger than life.andquot;
--School Library Journal, Fuse 8 Blog
andquot;Enhanced by gorgeously reproduced photos and artwork, Rubinandrsquo;s account follows the Mexican artist from his early drawings andmdash; as a small child, he was given free rein in a room andldquo;covered with black canvas as high as he could reachandrdquo; andmdash; through his eventful, productive life.andquot;
--The Washington Post
andquot;Rubin traces Riveraandrsquo;s life from his emergent boyhood talent, through the formal studio education that left him restless and professionally unsatisfied, to realizing his calling to create massive public artworks for the common people, celebrating the dignity of their labor.andquot;
--Bulletin of the Center for Childrenand#39;s Books
Award
School Library Journal Best Book of 2013
Best Multicultural Childrenand#39;s Books 2013 (Center for the Study of Multicultural Childrenand#39;s Literature)
Notable Childrenand#39;s Books from ALSC 2014
Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award 2014
Review
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;Playful but informative, this picture book offers a fascinating introduction to the artist and his work.andquot;
Synopsis
This charming book introduces one of the most popular artists of the twentieth century, Diego Rivera, to young readers. It tells the story of Diego as a young, mischievous boy who demonstrated a clear passion for art and then went on to become one of the most famous painters in the world.
Duncan Tonatiuh also prompts readers to think about what Diego would paint today. Just as Diego's murals depicted great historical events in Mexican culture or celebrated native peoples, if Diego were painting today, what would his artwork depict? How would his paintings reflect today's culture?
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours is a wonderful introduction to this great artist.
Praise for Diego Rivera
- By establishing a link between modern readers and Rivera and challenging them to "make our own murals," the author makes art both aspiration and action. Both solid introduction and exhortation, this book will thrill budding artists.
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Kids will want to talk about the great painter, and young artists will find inspiration for their own creations.
Booklist"
Synopsis
Discover the life and legacy of celebrated Mexican artist Diego Rivera in this picture book by award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh A Pura Belpr Illustrator Award Winner
Diego Rivera, one of the most famous painters of the twentieth century, was once just a mischievous little boy who loved to draw. But this little boy would grow up to follow his passion and greatly influence the world of art.
After studying in Spain and France as a young man, Diego was excited to return to his home country of Mexico. There, he toured from the coasts to the plains to the mountains. He met the peoples of different regions and explored the cultures, architecture, and history of those that had lived before. Returning to Mexico City, he painted great murals representing all that he had seen. He provided the Mexican people with a visual history of who they were and, most important, who they are.
Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh, who has also been inspired by the art and culture of his native Mexico, asks, if Diego was still painting today, what history would he tell through his artwork? What stories would he bring to life? Drawing inspiration from Rivera to create his own original work, Tonatiuh helps young readers to understand the importance of Diego Rivera's artwork and to realize that they too can tell stories through art.
Synopsis
STARRED REVIEW *"The author makes art both aspiration and action . . . This book will thrill budding artists." ―Kirkus Reviews "Young artists will find inspiration for their own creations." ―Booklist A Pura Belpr Illustrator Award Winner Discover the life and legacy of celebrated Mexican artist Diego Rivera in this picture book by award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.
Diego, one of the most famous painters of the 20th century, was once just a mischievous little boy who loved to draw. But this little boy would grow up to follow his passion and greatly influence the world of art. After studying in Spain and France as a young man, Diego was excited to return to his home country of Mexico.
There, he toured from the coasts to the plains to the mountains. He met the peoples of different regions and explored the cultures, architecture, and history of those who had lived before. Returning to Mexico City, he painted great murals representing all that he had seen. He provided the Mexican people with a visual history of who they were and, most importantly, who they are.
Tonatiuh, who has also been inspired by the art and culture of his native Mexico, asks, If Diego was still painting today, what history would he tell through his artwork? What stories would he bring to life?
Drawing inspiration from Rivera to create his own original work, Tonatiuh helps young readers to understand the importance of Diego Rivera's artwork and to realize that they too can tell stories through art.
Synopsis
From first-time Mexican author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes the story of two cousins, one in America and one in Mexico, and how their daily lives are different yet similar. Charlie takes the subway to school; Carlitos rides his bike. Charlie plays in fallen leaves; Carlitos plays among the local cacti.
Dear Primo covers the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of two very different childhoods, while also emphasizing how alike Charlie and Carlitos are at heart. Spanish words are scattered among the English text, providing a wonderful way to introduce the language and culture of Mexico to young children. Inspired by the ancient art of the Mixtecs and other cultures of Mexico, Tonatiuh incorporates their stylized forms into his own artwork.
FandPand#160;Level:and#160;M
FandPand#160;Genre:and#160;RF
Synopsis
Like a tiny bird in a big city, Frida Kahlo feels lost and lonely when she arrives in San Francisco with her husband, the famous artist Diego Rivera. But as Frida begins to explore San Francisco on her own, she discovers the inspiration she needs to become one of the most celebrated artists of all time. Me, Frida is an exhilarating true story that encourages children to believe in themselves so they can make their own dreams soar.
Synopsis
Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaverasandmdash;skeletons performing various everyday or festive activitiesandmdash;came to be. They are the creation of Mexican artist Josandeacute; Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852andndash;1913). In a country that was not known for freedom of speech, he first drew political cartoons, much to the amusement of the local population but not the politicians. He continued to draw cartoons throughout much of his life, but he is best known today for his calavera drawings. They have become synonymous with Mexicoandrsquo;s Dandiacute;a de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Juxtaposing his own art with that of Lupeandrsquo;s, author Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the remarkable life and work of a man whose art is beloved by many but whose name has remained in obscurity.
The book includes an authorandrsquo;s note, bibliography, glossary, and index.
About the Author
Duncan Tonatiuh was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He is a recent graduate of Parsons the New School for Design in New York City, where he studied writing and illustration. His first book, Dear Primo, was published in spring 2010. He divides his time between New York City and Mexico.