Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Through Georgia’s Eyes
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 4 to 8
Henry Holt, 2006 ISBN: 978-0805077407
Georgia was born in Wisconsin in the late 1800’s where she lived on a farm and played on the prairie with her brothers and sisters. Mostly though Georgia liked to be alone, drawing pictures of what she saw and dreaming of the day when she could be an artist. When she grew up she was able to go to art school where she explored with color and texture. Then Georgia began to create large paintings of flowers, paintings which caught the attention of others and which helped to give her a name in the art world.
Tired of city life Georgia then moved to the open skies and spaces of New Mexico where she found wonderful inspiration for her paintings. Walking in the desert she saw shapes and colors which swirled and danced in her mind. These were the images that she out down on canvas and which entrance art enthusiasts of all ages when they see her work in galleries around the world.
Using rich colors and layered collage the illustrator has created beautiful pictures reminiscent of Georgia O’ Keeffe’s own artwork. These pictures perfectly compliment the text capturing the beauty of Georgia’s world and the singularity of her artistic vision.
At the back of the book the author has included a section entitled “More about Georgia O’Keeffe” which readers will find interesting and which will encourage them to seek out images of Georgia’s work for themselves. It will also help them see that Georgia broke many rules by becoming a painter and by developing a style that was uniquely her own.
