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Reviewed by: Taylor Coonelly, Elementary School Librarian Title: Because Barbara: Barbara Cooney Paints Her World
Author: Sarah MacKenzie
Illustrator: Eileen Ryan Ewen
Publisher: Waxwing Books
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: PK-5 Genre/Type of Book: Biography
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: N/A
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Nominated for the CYBILS award for Elementary and Middle Grade nonfiction
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
The world is a beautiful place, and one woman sought to capture it all.
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Review:
The world is a beautiful place, and one woman sought to capture it all.
Barbara Cooney imagined in color. She saw the richness and boldness of everyday things, but struggled to put those things into her art throughout her childhood and adolescence. Refusing to give up on her dream, Barbara illustrated children's books in black and white, color being too expensive to print at the time. As Barbara grew, having children and moving to Massachusetts, she become more entranced by the colors of the world. She started to create what she really wanted, drawings with vivid details and colors capturing stories of crested chickens and far-away places. Her publisher finally agreed to publish her work and color, and it was these illustrations that earned Barbara her first Caldecott medal in 195. Barbara would go on to raise her children, explore the world, and continue to create several award winning picture books in her adult lifetime. Moving back to Maine after her children grew up, she noticed that her community's library was in need, and set to work fundraising to build a better public paradise for her town. Barbara Cooney lived her life appreciating and sharing the beauty of the world around her.
I had only briefly heard of Barbara Cooney, from her work in the children's literature field. I really enjoyed this biography dictating her life, and more so, I enjoyed how this biography focused on someone who achieved their dreams as an adult and how influential they were. The author does a great job capturing the stages of Barbara's life, and weaving in the message of persistence and joy throughout. The star of the show for me here was the illustrations, which were beautiful. They gave a classical children's book feel ,while incorporating bright colors and nature scenery. I love the cover, featuring a book opening into a magical wave like burst, because that imagery is what it can be like to open a new story. I also really enjoyed the timeline of Barbara's publishing and award winning books, I found myself referencing it while reading because I wanted to know what books had won the Caldecott.
This book is a wonderful picture book biography for elementary audiences, and can be shared in many ways with both children and adults. The message of appreciating life's colors and doing what you set your mind to is one that would resonate with a large reading audience.
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For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website