Scan barcode
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
3.0
I think it is difficult to write a biography for upper elementary that is interesting and yet appropriate. I think this book succeeds by focusing on the man as an artist and not on his personal or political life. The reading level is not difficult, and the photos of his work and the explanation of it is good. This book has definitely made me want to read an adult biography of the artist and for me that is a good recommendation.
pacifickle's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, fascinating, informative without being too much text for YA readers. Loved this!!
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Diego Rivera is one of those larger than life kind of people so had to be interesting to research and write about. I enjoyed reading about him. He is one of those people who seemed so completely consumed by his talent. He was also more than a little attracted to the ladies. I wondered how that would be discussed in a children's book. Since that was a significant factor in his life, I am glad that it wasn't ignored. The writing was clear and written well for middle grade readers. I especially liked the book because recently I had been listening to the book Lacuna by Kingsolver which is about a person living with the Rivera family. It was fun to see a factual account after that. Now I am even more eager to read the Frida Kahlo book that Yuyi Morales is illustrating. I think it comes out in the fall.
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
3.0
This is a biography of Diego Rivera, the famous mural painter from Mexico. While thorough and informative I didn't find it all that interesting and I thought there were too many mentions of his marriages and infidelities for a middle school crowd.
This didn't really work for me.
This didn't really work for me.
jillyd's review against another edition
4.0
Being from Detroit, I know Diego Rivera's name because of the amazing mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts. This book filled me in on the life of the man who created that mural, as well as so many other meaningful works of art. I think this is a well done biography for kids (and adults, too) who want to learn more about this fantastic artist.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting look at the painter and his colorful life.
dairyqueen84's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended
This beautiful and colorful biography perfectly captures Rivera’s passion for making art, Mexico, the common people, and the ladies. Written in straightforward prose, students will be delighted by tidbits about his personal life such as the nickname his second wife Frida Kahlo used, Frog-face, and the fact that he was over six feet tall and rarely bathed. The text is interspersed with plentiful reproductions of his full murals and details of them, photos of him and Frida, and charcoal cartoon renditions of his murals drawn to scale. It follows his career from his school days in Mexico to his travels to Paris, Spain and other European countries where he soaked up all he could from the art scene and various teachers. When he returned to Mexico he decided he “wanted to teach the people of Mexico through pictures” and dedicated his art to painting murals in which the “common people” and peasants were often the subjects. It contains controversies as well as the story of his career and frescoes, including the destruction of his fresco in the RCA building made for Nelson Rockefeller. This book is better read from beginning to end making it inconvenient to use for a report for students because there are no headings or subheadings. It includes a glossary of terms and people, source notes, an index, and a list of places to view Rivera’s work.
Positive reviews SLJ and Kirkus
This beautiful and colorful biography perfectly captures Rivera’s passion for making art, Mexico, the common people, and the ladies. Written in straightforward prose, students will be delighted by tidbits about his personal life such as the nickname his second wife Frida Kahlo used, Frog-face, and the fact that he was over six feet tall and rarely bathed. The text is interspersed with plentiful reproductions of his full murals and details of them, photos of him and Frida, and charcoal cartoon renditions of his murals drawn to scale. It follows his career from his school days in Mexico to his travels to Paris, Spain and other European countries where he soaked up all he could from the art scene and various teachers. When he returned to Mexico he decided he “wanted to teach the people of Mexico through pictures” and dedicated his art to painting murals in which the “common people” and peasants were often the subjects. It contains controversies as well as the story of his career and frescoes, including the destruction of his fresco in the RCA building made for Nelson Rockefeller. This book is better read from beginning to end making it inconvenient to use for a report for students because there are no headings or subheadings. It includes a glossary of terms and people, source notes, an index, and a list of places to view Rivera’s work.
Positive reviews SLJ and Kirkus
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot. I thought it was a good take on a famous painter.
jillyd's review
4.0
Being from Detroit, I know Diego Rivera's name because of the amazing mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts. This book filled me in on the life of the man who created that mural, as well as so many other meaningful works of art. I think this is a well done biography for kids (and adults, too) who want to learn more about this fantastic artist.
More...