Diego: Bigger Than Life - Hardcover

Bernier-Grand, Carmen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0761453830 ISBN 13: 9780761453833

Publisher: Amazon Publishing, 2009

Synopsis

Carmen T. Bernier-Grand’s inspiring free verse and David Diaz’s vivid paintings capture the defining moments and emotions of Rivera’s tumultuous life, including his stormy relationship with artist Frida Kahlo and his passion for his art. Rivera’s energy, physique, love for women, and work were all "bigger than life." A biography, chronology, glossary, sources, notes, and famous quotations are included.

About this title

About the Author:

Carmen T. Bernier-Grand grew up in Puerto Rico. She is the author of several children’s books, including Shake It, Morena and Juan Bobo: Four Folktales from Puerto Rico. She lives in Portland, Oregon

David Díaz won the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in Smoky Night by Eve Bunting. His artwork has appeared in a number of other distinguished titles, including The Pot that Juan Built and Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman. His work has also been featured in national publications such as The Atlantic Monthly and The Washington Post. He lives in Carlsbad, California.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* In this well-written and beautifully illustrated volume, the life of Mexican artist Diego Rivera, best known for murals depicting working people, is introduced in free verse. Similar in format to Bernier-Grand’s César: Sí, se puede! = Yes, We Can! (2004) and Frida: Viva la vida! Long Live Life! (2007), the book offers a chronological sequence of poems, each appearing either on a single page accompanied by a small illustration or on a left-hand page with a full-page picture on the right. Almost all written in first person from the artist’s point of view, the poems convey information succinctly within a context of colorful narrative and clearly expressed emotion. Each poem stands alone, yet some words, ideas, and images recur, creating an interconnected sequence. A three-page appended biography clarifies and amplifies the information in the verse. Also appended are a glossary, a chronology, a source bibliography, notes, and quotes from the artist. Apart from four reproductions of Rivera’s paintings and one photo of the artist, the illustrations are mixed-media pictures by Diaz. Depicting Rivera and his world, these iconic images glow with warmth, light, and color. In the backgrounds, some scenes incorporate imagery from Aztec art, which Rivera collected. A lively verse portrait illuminated with incandescent illustrations. Grades 7-10. --Carolyn Phelan

About this edition

• Publisher: Amazon Publishing
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0761453830
• ISBN 13: 9780761453833
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 64
• Illustrator: Diaz David