Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude
Illustrator: Calef Brown
Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Simon and Schuster, 2009 ISBN: 978-1416940883
Gertrude and Alice are having a little get together at their house. Writers and painters of all kinds come to socialize at Gertrude's home. Pablo Picasso with his "angry" modern art, Henri Matisse with his smile, and Ernest Hemingway with his beard come to listen to Gertrude talk. And Alice is always there to make sure that "Gertrude is happy."
At night Gertrude writes, and in the daytime Alice types up Gertrude's writings. Gertrude believes that writing can be whatever it wants to be, just like modern art. And so she writes things that come into her mind, and she does not care if other people don't always understand what she has written.
Written in the style of Gertrude Stein's own writings, this book gives readers a picture of what Gertrude's life was like. With her companion Alice Toklas to guard, help, and love her, Gertrude charmed a colorful palette of people, many of whom were famous. Her writing was different and unique, and though she was often made fun of in her own time, she is now considered to be one of the most "influential voices" of an era.
