Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World by Laurence Anholt
| Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World by Laurence Anholt | |
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| Category: Emerging Readers | |
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Reviewer: Zoe Morris
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| Summary: Inspired by a true story of Frida Kahlo's friendship with a young girl, this is a delicate look at the artist's life and artistry | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: August 2016 |
| Publisher: Frances Lincoln
date=August 2016 | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0764168376 | |
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You don't live in Mexico City for a year without learning a lot about Frida Kahlo, visiting her blue house, nosing round Diego's studio, working in soaring tower blocks where her work hangs in reception and generally embracing the Left Bank-esque Coyoacan lifestyle, therefore I was thrilled to receive this book which introduces Kahlo and Diego to a younger audience.
As an artist, Kahlo painted some tortured portraits of herself but also did more mainstream work, including commissions for families such as Mariana's. She's the little girl in this book, and she's finally old enough to sit for Frida, who has painted portraits of many other members of her family. Trying not to be frightened by what her siblings tell her of strange paintings and skeletons, she goes along to the Casa Azul one Saturday.
This is a book about the friendship between an artist and her subject, and is based on a true story. It's well researched and I really hope the eagle's name (Gertrude Caca Blanca or Gertrude White Poo) is not artistic licence because it's my favourite new factoid. As Mariana gets to know Frida she learns about her as a real person, beyond her public persona, and Frida shares with her the heart-breaking story of her health and her route to painting.
This is a very well imagined story that touches on some more adult themes, making it a step apart from a lot of children's books of this size and shape. It would be a good resource for researching a school project for older children, but for younger ones it is a lovely introduction to Mexico as a colourful country with wild fashion where people are exotically different and yes, sometimes, have dodgy eye brows.
I enjoyed this book, both the story itself and the blurb at the back about Kahlo's life and true relationship with Mariana.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending us a copy to review. We would also recommend Little People, Big Dreams: Frida Kahlo by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Eng Gee Fan for this age group.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World by Laurence Anholt at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World by Laurence Anholt at Amazon.com.
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