Mary Cassatt

Children's Literature

Born in 1844 to wealthy, educated parents, Mary lived in Europe and the United States throughout her life. At the beginning of the book, a time line and "Fun Facts" follow a one-page summary of Cassatt as an artist. These provide background and context for the brief biography that follows. Information about the artist's family, education, and some of the influences on her painting style are presented in simple sentences. Reprints of some of her paintings, photographs, and some works by other artists add interest to each of the pages. Since Cassatt had a career as an artist when it was thought that women should only paint and draw as hobbies, this is a good title to keep in mind as a biography for Women's History Month. In "Artist's Corner" there is a brief explanation of "impressionism" and how Cassatt's Little Girl in a Blue Armchair (accompanied by a reprint of the painting) fits the criteria. Succinct, interesting, and informative, this is part of the "Great Artists" series. A glossary, pronunciation guide, Web sites, and an index complete the book. 2005, ABDO Publishing, Ages 7 to 10.
—Sharon Salluzzo

School Library Journal

Gr 3-4-Two-page chapters offer basic information about the life and work of the artists and the eras in which they lived. Splotches of color, varied borders, small reproductions, and many photos provide visual interest in these small-format books. Reproductions give a flavor for the artists' work, but in some cases the paintings that are shown are not the ones discussed; instead, unrelated artwork is reproduced. The sentences are often choppy and/or awkward. All in all, these are not necessary purchases. Ernest Raboff's Frederic Remington (HarperCollins, 1988; o.p.) offers a good critique of Remington's work, but it has no biographical material. Robyn Montana Turner's Mary Cassatt (Little, Brown, 1992) provides more information about the artist and features larger and more numerous reproductions. Diane Stanley's Michelangelo (HarperCollins, 2000) is more detailed and includes many good illustrations, but they are Stanley's own renderings of Michelangelo's works.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.