A precious book about a loving and supportive family, embracing the arts in daily life. A must for familes nuturing young artists.

It reminds me very much of my daughter would would creep downstairs to draw in the dark of night. Drawing, drawing all the time.

This is a bittersweet book, and should be read with a discussion time included. ( )

Generations of children have enjoyed the works of children’s book author and artist Wanda Gág (rhymes with jog). This inspiring biography reveals her personal struggles growing up in a small German-speaking village in Minnesota and her surprising rise to celebrity in New York City. Vivid pastel illustrations complement and enrich the text. After Millions of Cats, Wanda’s Diary, Author’s Note, Bibliography.

Really well done for a children's history book. ( )

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Wanda Gag's story begins in a German settlement in Minnesota. Art was very important to her large family, consisting of her father, mother, and six younger siblings. Wanda's inspiration came from her father, who spend six days a week decorating homes and churches and one day a week doing art for himself; he urged her to look at the world in her own way. Her mother would read her German fairytales which became inspirational for her future story books. Her father died when she was fifteen, leaving her family in turmoil. Instead of giving up her dreams of art, she found ways to make money from it by selling cards and bookmarks. After finishing high school, she won an art school scholarship to a nearby university. In her senior year, her mother passed away. However, things changed for the better when she won another scholarship. The second scholarship was to the Art Students League in New York City. Wanda flourished in New York, but her artwork did not feel like it was coming from her heart. She rented a farmhouse; it was there that she was inspired to write "Millions of Cats" a story that was "as much a work of art as any picture she would send to an exhibition." This book was awarded a John Newbery Honor and catalysed Wanda's writing and drawing of many other story books.
This book is a detailed recollection of Wanda's life and hardships. It included passages from her diary above various sections in the books which adds a personal touch. However, some of Wanda's drawings should have been included in the book to give the reader an idea of what her drawings look like. ( )