Starting with a gorgeous cover design, Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo is a perfect introduction to one of Mexico’s most iconic painters, and not just for children, though the book is written for ages seven to ten. Like other books in the Discover the Artist Behind the Masterpieces series, the text tells an engaging, age-appropriate biography with gorgeous illustrations. The art echoes the style of Frida Kahlo and includes reproductions of her iconic work paired with a time in her life that likely inspired it, such as the famous painting of she and Diego Rivera featured on a page describing their marriage and with an illustration of the wedding. The final page of the book pairs three paintings with a brief explanation of their meaning which is a great introduction to how to look at art.

What I really loved about the book was that while it provided an explanation of how events and feelings in her life inspired and were expressed in her work, it also highlighted her social activism on behalf of equality and fair pay. The challenges of being a female artist at the time and all her accomplishments were emphasized. Additionally, Brownridge explains how Kahlo felt homesick for Mexico when living in the United States. All these topics are wonderful discussion starters.

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo won’t just help children learn about Frida Kahlo. It will inspire them to overcome challenges and teach them about women’s history. It is definitely a book I would purchase for young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wide Eyed Editions (Quarto Publishing Group) for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this introduction to Frida Kahlo’s biography, to her work and to the lasting impact she had on the history of art perfect for kids and adults alike. It is beautifully illustrated and engaging, coomprehensive and lovely to read. I highly recommend this inspiring work of art in itself to anyone interested in art!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to discover such a lovely book!
#PortraitOfAnArtistFridaKahlo #NetGalleyFrance

I feel like I learned about Frida Kahlo reading this book! I have recently been learning more about her, and this book included some new information - for instance, I didn't know she had an easel that allowed her to paint in bed. I enjoyed the artwork, I liked the depictions of Frida Kahlo's artwork, and I would recommend this to anyone to read.

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo by Lucy Brownridge is another charming addition to this lovely and ambitious biography series that features some of the world's most influential and beloved artists. The gorgeous, detailed illustrations by Sandra Dieckmann are superb, and serve to enhance a text that is clearly written in a way that will be fully accessible to even the youngest of children. I have fallen in love with this delightful series, and will be, without doubt, adding each precious gem to my collection. Long may this series continue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for the opportunity to experience this ARC.

Absolutely beautiful storytelling and artwork. I love Frida, and this is a very nice version of her story for children that showcases her strength and talent. I loved it!

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really lovely little children's book about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. I myself was introduced to Kahlo in my early adolescence by my absolutely amazing and inspirational art teacher. I remember being completely entranced by Kahlo's art and learning about her life. I think I'd really have appreciated a book like this to introduce me to her.

The colours and artwork in the book are vibrant and eye-catching to hold children's interest. I liked the way Kahlo's artworks were incorporated with the illustrations as the story progressed.

The book showcases Kahlo's many artistic achievements, her proud Mexican identity and her feminist ideology. There's no sniff of Diego's infidelity and her Communist beliefs but hey, it's a kids book after all.

A really nice book to introduce to a younger person to pique or further develop an interest in art.

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo by Lucy Brownridge is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. Wonderful book about the short but productive and creative life of Frida Kahlo! The book describes her illness and injury and how she got to painting in bed since she was bored. It told about her successes, her marriage, and more. The back of the book shows some of her paintings with information about each. This is an excellent book to meet this female artist.

The Portrait of an Artist series by Lucy Brownridge is an excellent way to introduce the work and history of important artists to people of all ages. The illustrations are colorful and will appeal to pre-readers and although the content is written for children, it is interesting enough to engage adult readers. The Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo was illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann and Kahlo's works are set into the gorgeous landscapes that cover each two-page fold. The facts included about Kahlo are selected to represent her life and the stages of her work and are perfect as discussion starters for art and expanded topics, such as emotional awareness, interpersonal interactions, and social activism. Brownridge was able to include a rich vocabulary and glossary of Frida Kahlo's most famous works. This book would be a perfect gift for a budding art lover or a seasoned art aficionado.

Having had to dismiss the van Gogh entrant to this series for just getting too much factually wrong, it's brilliant to say this volume nails its subject. It shows Frida doing a lot more than just the painting that was pretty much all Vincent did, but we still get to see real images of her finished portraits and other artworks at relevant times. What we do see perfectly lines up with her life story – her in bed struggling to work through the pain of polio and her injuries to paint on an easel propped across her legs, meeting Diego Rivera, marrying him, watching him hard at work in the USA she found herself leaving alone… All the while relevant art is appropriately hung within the image, and we are told at the book's close about each Kahlo piece that we spotted decorating the very story of Kahlo herself. It's such a simple and obvious format, but I don't remember seeing it being done before. The designs by the book's creators are once again totally in keeping and in style with the subject's oeuvre. And as a primer to the subject, this is perfectly judged.

What's not to love? Beautiful illustrations, and the story of Frida Kahlo written in a way that is engaging and inspiring to young readers. My 5 year old loves reading about inspirational women and I know we'll be adding this book to our collection when it's published!

"Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo" is a great introduction to Kahlo for picture book readers. It covers her life and works well.

A lovely consideration to celebrate a notable artist’s life. The book presents information in an accessible and inviting way. I would gladly add this to my shelf, along with others from this series. These are very attractive texts.

Part of ‘Portrait of an Artist’ series. Love that title.
Published by Wide Eyed Editions for young children and in my opinion will be adored by 4-10 year olds.
Written by Lucy Brownridge and beautifully illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann. The colour palate and design appears to reflect the artist and I feel this is a real bonus element that lifts the book above the average.
Lucy’s words are well expressed for the age range and the technical aspects of the art world are carefully outlined.

This book focuses on Frida Kahlo. A truly inspiring role model for our children and a story that as a child I was ignorant about. Indeed only as a adult through a Hollywood film has this artist become known to me.

I was encouraged to read of the fact that the generosity of the artists involved in her life was so inspiring and supportive. But I really appreciated Frida herself; her hard life, childhood illness and physical disability she overcame and endured in her life. However, her love of her country, Mexico with her passion and the inspiration she drew from her familiar surroundings marked her as a unique person.

She was overcoming obstacles from the beginning. It is her character, determination and resilience that makes me want to share her story with young enquiring minds.
Frida was self-taught. A women where art was a male dominated environment yet she maintained her style and personal approach, attitude to her own expressionist work.
This book clearly brings these issues to the fore and explains them simply where children can understand and be inspired into their lives.

Finally at a time, today, when the Mexican people are being marginalised, criminalised and denigrated in America, Frida, was enticed by New York society, although supportive of her husband initially she felt incomplete and homesick for Mexico.
The book presents this well and underscored her achievements. Like having a painting accepted into the Louvre. Her many self portraits.

However, what I share with you and celebrate in this book is the examples of her paintings that are incorporated into the pages of this book and her story. To be then explained in detail at the end of the book.
A great series and Frida leads the way with aplomb.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated and clearly presented, this is a wonderful introduction to the life and work of Frida Kahlo. Very visually engaging, each page has plenty to hold the readers interest. This would be a perfect read alone or small group text for my KS2 students.

I love these books, and think they are a great idea for children.
The illustrations are beautiful and I loved how they incorporated actual pictures by Frida.
A great way to introduce influential artists to kids.

This book is part of a new series from Wide Eyed editions. Each will feature the biography and work of a well known artist and is geared for elementary school students. If this book is anything to go by, this will be an informative and beautifully illustrated series.

The book includes many of the important aspects of the artist's life from her polio and devastating accident to her meeting Diego Rivera and her travels to places including the U.S. and France, where she was the first Mexican artist to find her work in the Louvre. There is also information about how Kahlo painted, what she painted and her love of Mexico. The illustrations are much in the style of the artist and many of her paintings are featured in the background of the text. At the end of the book, the reader can learn more about Kahlo and her works of art.

Some quotes:

Frida liked to paint lots of outfits or versions of herself in the same picture. She did this to show what it was like to feel like lots of different people, all rolled into one body.

Sometimes Frida felt on top of the world! When she felt like this, her paintings would be filled with sunny colors and Mexican plants from her garden. Sometimes Frida felt low and frustrated that one of her legs was always more tired than the other. When she felt like this, her paintings were filled with gloomy colors.

This book deserves its place in school and home libraries. It is a wonderful way for children to learn about art history.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

Stunning pictures in this exceptional children's book geared for ages 4 through 7. An informative book splashed with bold colors and a wonderful introduction for young minds to learn about this important female artist who battled many serious life issue. A joy to read and share with bright inquiring minds.