Back of Book:
You may be familiar with the iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial. But do you know about the artist-architect who created this landmark?
As a child, Maya Lin loved to study the spaces around her. She explored the forest in her backyard, observing woodland creatures, and used her house as a model to build tiny towns out of paper and scraps. The daughter of a clay artist and a poet, Maya grew up with art and learned to think with her hands as well as her mind. From her first experiments with light and lines to the height of her success nationwide, this is the story of an inspiring American artist: the visionary artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
My Review: I was delighted when I heard about this story. I have stood at this breathtaking memorial. I was excited to find a picture book to share with my students about the importance of the Veterans Memorial. The story begins with the childhood of Maya Lin. The book shares with readers that Maya grew up with a father who was an artist, and a mother who was a poet. Both left a lasting impression on Maya. The book goes on to tell readers how Maya came up with the design, and evacuation of the wall. Jeanne Walker Harvey did a terrific job telling the story of one of the greatest memorials ever built! She shows readers the strength that Maya had as she stood for something she believed in. Dow Phumiruk’s illustrations are stunning. Every picture shows readers a detailed look to one amazing woman. There is a great authors note in the back of the book that shares about Maya’s other work. This is the kind of book that we as educators need more of.
Ages 6 and up
32 Pages
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