A review by nerfherder86
Nature's Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story by Lindsey McDivitt

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.