Reviews

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear

krismarley's review against another edition

3.0

Years ago I would have purchased most any picture book biography for my school library without much thought ... today, I don’t know. Maybe if I had a really, really good budget.

katlogbrenn's review against another edition

5.0

I love Gyo Fijikawa and I'm so happy to see a biography of her life as an illustrator and Japanese American whose immigrant family faced internment. Julie Morstad is the perfect illustrator to pay homage to her style.

sunflowerjess's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

Gyo Fujiwaka was a trailblazer! I had no idea she was the first author and illustrator in America to conceive of and publish a children's book featuring multiracial children. Her book was originally rejected, but was published a couple years later, a year after the Civil Rights Act. She was also a pioneer and rule-breaker in that she refused to work for publishers "that didn't pay their artists a fair living wage" (from the author's and illustrator's note). What an incredible person. 

elizabethlk's review

5.0

I didn't really know anything about Gyo Fujikawa before reading this, and this picture book biography is a great primer. It is beautifully illustrated and covers a lot of the most important details of Fujikawa's life and career, with extra info and photos at the end. Definitely recommended for all fans of picture book biographies and fans of art and artists.

ce_read's review

5.0

What a badass lady! Gyo Fujikawa was an incredible, independent, strong-willed artist who drew and painted during WWII and the civil rights era (and since she was a child but I digress). She drew the first children's book to have diverse characters - Babies! And they're adorable!

I loved the pacing, the art style, the focus on Gyo's own initiative and skill while still balancing the external world and people who helped give her opportunity in a world built to exclude her.

bargainandbooks's review

5.0

It Began With A Page is a fascinating true story about Gyo Fujikawas life. A Japanese American born in 1908 in California, her life was filled with hardship, struggles and tribulations. Being a Japanese woman, especially during WWII she faces constant opposing forces. She showed incredible strength, determination, perseverance and courage while paving the way for future strong girls and women.

From working for Disney to children’s books Babies and Baby animals she did not let people hold her back.

Gorgeous illustrations and an amazing story about a beautiful and strong woman!

melaniegaum's review against another edition

5.0

I'd never heard of this interesting woman before, so it was cool to learn about her life and accomplishments. I loved the illustrations.

wordnerd153's review

4.0

The author did a wonderful job of weaving together history, art and biography.

graypeape's review

5.0

What a lovely book! The illustrations by Julie Morstad compliment the text by Kyo Maclear perfectly, paying tribute to Gyo Fujikawa's soft, colorful style. The story is told simply, with poetic language, and covers the events of Fujikawa's life in a way that highlights her drive and spirit. Her first book, Babies, was one of the first books to show children of different races playing together, and became a bestseller, despite her publisher's worries that people wouldn't accept it. An inspiring and beautiful book.

#ItBeganWithAPage #NetGalley

gmrickel's review

5.0

I knew nothing of Gyo Fujikawa (pronounced "ghee-o" according to the back content) before reading this book and now I want to go find all the books she wrote/illustrated. Especially with my bff's baby on the way! This is a book for anyone interested in artists and/or children's literature. The author and illustrator worked with Fujikawa's family to learn all the interesting and personal stories included in this book, along with the details of her professional development. There is a timeline of her life included in the back, along with photos of her. Fujikawa sounds like quite a force, a phenomenal woman that I would want my children to know and look up to. If you are looking for biographies of activists/artists/women of color - this is a must-read!

I think this book would work best with advanced young readers of picture books, a reluctant reader who is a bit older, or a read-together book.