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lizaroo71's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book because it introduced me to a woman I have never heard of before. In fact, McDivitt makes it her mission to present characters in children's literature that have positive representations of the elderly.
Gwen Frostic is a woman that incorporated her love of nature into her art. She lost full control of her hands at an early age because of illness, but rather than fall into the background, her mother encouraged her to create art in order to make her hands stronger.
Frostic went on to study art and to use her skills in the World's Fair and helping build WWII bombers. In her retirement, Frostic worked until she was 95, Frostic opened up a small printmaking shop in northern Michigan that is still open today.
Gwen Frostic is a woman that incorporated her love of nature into her art. She lost full control of her hands at an early age because of illness, but rather than fall into the background, her mother encouraged her to create art in order to make her hands stronger.
Frostic went on to study art and to use her skills in the World's Fair and helping build WWII bombers. In her retirement, Frostic worked until she was 95, Frostic opened up a small printmaking shop in northern Michigan that is still open today.
teenytinylibrary's review against another edition
5.0
This is a gorgeous book about overcoming opposition. I love the illustrations. Nice homey read.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
The story of a girl with physical disabilities who never let them define her or stop her from achieving her goals. She grew up in Michigan, had an illness as a baby that left her with slurred speech, a dragging foot, and weak hand strength. She loved nature, and her mother encouraged her to practice drawing, to strengthen her hands. She became an artist, went to college for art. During World War II she worked for Ford Motor Company, which was building airplanes for the war. She used her mechanical drawing skills to design "plane-building tools." Eventually she started her own greeting card company, had a studio out in the wilds of Michigan. Kept working until a few years before her death at age 95! The school of art at her alma mater, Western Michigan University, is named after her; she donated $13 million dollars to them. A portrait of a successful artist, environmentalist, and businesswoman, who also wrote and illustrated 22 books and gave FREE presentations to students. I had never heard of her so it was nice to learn her story. Gorgeous illustrations in this book, in ink and watercolor.
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed learning about Gwen Frostic in this picturebook (which I picked because it was a bonus borrow on Hoopla last month). The tone of this book was enthusiastic and informative. I wish I'd gotten a better idea of the physical disability Gwen was working with, but I'm glad the book didn't let her disability define her journey. Instead, it focuses mainly on her draw to nature and the influence it had on her art throughout her life.
erine's review against another edition
5.0
A delightfully illustrated look at an interesting Michigan woman.
jmshirtz's review against another edition
4.0
A first look (for me) at a Michigan woman who overcame physical and societal challenges to become a successful artist and business owner circa World War II. The illustrations were nice, but I wish they’d take more inspiration for Frostic’s work.
andizor's review
5.0
This is a gorgeous book about overcoming opposition. I love the illustrations. Nice homey read.
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