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Reviews
Fallingwater: The Building of Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece by Marc Harshman, Anna Egan Smucker
mindfullibrarian's review
5.0
Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing for providing me with a review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
As a school librarian in Wisconsin, I have a large number of students every year choosing Frank Lloyd Wright as their topic for their Wisconsin Heritage Fair projects, so I was absolutely delighted to see the subject of this new book! I will be purchasing two copies for my elementary school library, and will be encouraging my 4th grade teachers to purchase copies for their classrooms as well.
FALLINGWATER is the true story of how Wright's masterpiece by the same name in Pennsylvania came to be, and describes in detail the process of designing and the inspiration behind the unique structure. The text of the story is detailed enough to use for research, but spare enough for a rich whole class read aloud including discussion of Wright's career and extensions involving images and exploration of Fallingwater itself. There is a very thorough author's note and artist's note in the back pages that will be excellent for research purposes, and the finished copy will also include a bibliography and source notes.
The illustrations by LeUyen Pham are absolutely stunning and manage to capture the uniqueness of Fallingwater, and in the artist's note Pham discusses how difficult it was to replicate the structure on paper. This book would be excellent for use in art classes for discussions on architecture and illustrations of architecture.
Highly recommended for all school libraries and classrooms in general, but a required purchase for those in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
As a school librarian in Wisconsin, I have a large number of students every year choosing Frank Lloyd Wright as their topic for their Wisconsin Heritage Fair projects, so I was absolutely delighted to see the subject of this new book! I will be purchasing two copies for my elementary school library, and will be encouraging my 4th grade teachers to purchase copies for their classrooms as well.
FALLINGWATER is the true story of how Wright's masterpiece by the same name in Pennsylvania came to be, and describes in detail the process of designing and the inspiration behind the unique structure. The text of the story is detailed enough to use for research, but spare enough for a rich whole class read aloud including discussion of Wright's career and extensions involving images and exploration of Fallingwater itself. There is a very thorough author's note and artist's note in the back pages that will be excellent for research purposes, and the finished copy will also include a bibliography and source notes.
The illustrations by LeUyen Pham are absolutely stunning and manage to capture the uniqueness of Fallingwater, and in the artist's note Pham discusses how difficult it was to replicate the structure on paper. This book would be excellent for use in art classes for discussions on architecture and illustrations of architecture.
Highly recommended for all school libraries and classrooms in general, but a required purchase for those in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
turrean's review
5.0
Fascinating kid-friendly view of the creation of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous architectural marvels, Fallingwater.
readingthroughtheages's review
5.0
I really did not know much about Frank Lloyd Wright before, and although not a look at his whole life, I liked the concentration on this particular piece of architecture.
Gorgeous illustrations from the extremely talented LeUyen Pham.
Gorgeous illustrations from the extremely talented LeUyen Pham.
krismarley's review
3.0
Wait, wut? I already read this book!? I’m turning into my mom! In my defense, it’s an unmemorable read.
rainbowbookworm's review
5.0
I have always admired Fallingwater and this book is perfect to teach young readers its origin story.
michelebr63's review
5.0
A wonderful book for kids with insight into Wright and his process, and a lesson in perseverance.
beccah85's review
4.0
This was one of the picture books we read in a little Read Aloud Revival unit study on Frank Lloyd Wright. We loved the illustrations and the story. The author’s and artist’s notes at the end are not to be missed.
florapants84's review
4.0
"A house like no other,
where sun can shine,
where balconies can fly,
where falling water
is heard from every room."
Gorgeous non-fiction read about how Wright was inspired to build the fabulous Fallingwater home in 1934. Now I feel inspired to visit this masterpiece at some point.
claudiaswisher's review
4.0
I was reminded of Falling Water while reading Neal Shusterman's SCYTHE. Even tho the setting of the book is far into the future, the house is still standing, and one of the main characters has chosen that as her dwelling. It brought the house, and my deep desire to see it, back to my heart.
This is the story of the 'washed up' F L Wright being asked to create a home (a summer house, I learned) on the site of a waterfall and camp sight. It takes us through the planning and the building.
But it doesn't bring those of us who wanted more detail any closer to the magic of this house. Then, I remembered, this is a picture book, and I'm not the audience...kids who may be fascinated by building and planning and concrete are the audience.
I think this will inspire those kids to dig deeper, to take this brief introduction into Wright's work and research more.
Loved how the illustrator reflected Wright's work, his lettering, and his prints.
This is the story of the 'washed up' F L Wright being asked to create a home (a summer house, I learned) on the site of a waterfall and camp sight. It takes us through the planning and the building.
But it doesn't bring those of us who wanted more detail any closer to the magic of this house. Then, I remembered, this is a picture book, and I'm not the audience...kids who may be fascinated by building and planning and concrete are the audience.
I think this will inspire those kids to dig deeper, to take this brief introduction into Wright's work and research more.
Loved how the illustrator reflected Wright's work, his lettering, and his prints.
engpunk77's review
4.0
A lovely picture book about the inspiration for, the building of, and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright's "house like no other" in western PA. Years ago, I had passed Fallingwater on my way to spending the day at Ohiopyle several times, but I never had an interest in seeing the house. After learning more about Wright over the years and the appearance of the famous domicile in a fictionalized future (the Scythe series by Neal Shusterman), I decided to add it to my travel bucket list. I'm sorry that I didn't stop to see it the many times I was in the area.
Readers learn that the house was designed to appear as if it had grown out of the natural landscape in which it exists, appearing to float over the waterfall, made out of the same natural materials as surrounds it as if it truly is just an extension of the natural environment. I loved the images and rich imagery created by the word choice as well as the illustrations. For example, the authors compare the scaffolding used during construction to "branches extending from a tree" spreading "its spindly legs"...
It's a lovely picture book, and it leaves the reader desperate to see the entirety of the house. If western PA school children visit this site as a field trip, this book would be the ultimate read-aloud to garner excitement but also to be used as a study in language arts. Themes include having a dream and seeing that it comes to fruition, working together, and how an artist/architect works.
Readers learn that the house was designed to appear as if it had grown out of the natural landscape in which it exists, appearing to float over the waterfall, made out of the same natural materials as surrounds it as if it truly is just an extension of the natural environment. I loved the images and rich imagery created by the word choice as well as the illustrations. For example, the authors compare the scaffolding used during construction to "branches extending from a tree" spreading "its spindly legs"...
It's a lovely picture book, and it leaves the reader desperate to see the entirety of the house. If western PA school children visit this site as a field trip, this book would be the ultimate read-aloud to garner excitement but also to be used as a study in language arts. Themes include having a dream and seeing that it comes to fruition, working together, and how an artist/architect works.