Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge,from Pacific Court and PR, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own.
Filled with colorful illustrations, this book includes stories about Dorothea Lange’s haunting portraits of American history, Margaret Bourke-White’s bravery as the first female war correspondent in WWII, Florestine Perrault Collins’ influential images depicting Black life in the 1920s, and many more. Including explanations of key photography terms, photo project ideas, and suggestions for other women photographers to study, this charming book will inspire children to pick up a camera and make their own incredible photographs.
From the author:
Review
First off, when I read the blurb for this book, I just assumed each woman would have at least one of her photos shown. I thought the illustrator was for the artist portrait. WRONG- no photos, just a few simple illustrations of some photos. SIGH
I get this book is aimed at kids ages 8-12. BUT kids in grades 4-6 are SO tech savvy that I'm afraid after 1/5 of the book, they'll walk away. Illustrations are nice, but these incredible women made you FEEL emotion, experience the moment WITH them, and transport you. So many of them have taken photos that can haunt you. Yes, a painting can do the same, but not anywhere near in this case. This book would be better aimed at YOUNG children. Kids in upper elementary are going to want to SEE the photos.
I understand not everyone feels the same way, but by age 8 my daughter went to NOMA at least 3/4 times a YEAR. She had seen countless photography exhibits and been enchanted with them-even those of our early history in Louisiana. If I had handed her this book at that age, she would have felt like I was giving her a little kids book, and being forced to seek out photos of 35 people on the web would have aggravated her, and some of her favorites are IN the book!
Both my teen and I would love to see this book redone, with sample photos from each photographer to showcase what a varied field photography can be, and to visually impact kids in this age group. I'm sure there may be some copyright delays, but surely this is a book meant for the power of the photograph!!! For now, give this to YOUNGER kids, especially those that may not have a moderon museum nearby, and who can use the web to broaden their artistic view., and to see what power changes these women helped to make with their photos!
About the Author/Illustrator:
Darcy Reed is a writer, editor, and actor. Her books include: The College Bucket List, Disney: Ninety Years of Mickey Mouse, Wonder Woman Trivia Deck, The Photography Trivia Deck, Captain Marvel, Extraordinary Women With Cameras, and Shakespeare: Famous Last Words. In her free time she enjoys cooking, playing with her twin nieces, and following Pearl Jam on tour. She lives in Sonoma County, CA.
From a young age, Vanessa Perez knew she had a connection with art and telling stories through drawings. This love for creating led her to pursue a career in illustration. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from California State University Long Beach, Vanessa has been working as a freelance illustrator, creating drawings for individuals and small businesses. She primarily works digitally and occasionally with gouache paint. Vanessa is a Southern California native and loves exploring new food creations, roller skating at the beach, and spending time with friends and family.
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