Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn’t see any artists who looked like her. She didn’t see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. As a young woman studying art in Paris, she found inspiration in the works of Matisse and Gaugin to paint the people she knew best. Back in Philadelphia, the Harmon Foundation commissioned her to paint portraits of accomplished African-Americans. Her portraits still hang in Washington DC’s National Portrait Gallery, where children of all races can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured.
My Review:
I was sent a copy of this picture book from Creston Books in exchange for an honest review.
Nancy Churnin’s books have become some of my favorite nonfiction picture books to share in my classroom. She always captures the life and work of someone who left an impact on the world. Laura Wheeler Waring was an artist who longed to see portraits of people who looked like her. At an early age, she painted her friends and family and displayed them around her room. She believed that the color brown was a rainbow of hues and colors all its own. The lyrical text opens the reader’s eyes to a fairly unknown piece of art history. The illustrations by Felicia Marshall are breathtaking and showcase the many shades of brown that makeup people. The back matter in the book has more information about Laura and the timeline of her life. There are also pictures of some of the portraits that Laura painted throughout her career.
This is an excellent book that is a perfect addition to any Black History unit. My students loved learning about such a remarkable woman.
Ages 6 and up
32 Pages
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