Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life

Gr 1-4--A serviceable introduction to artist and educator, Ruth Asawa. She was primarily a sculptor, known for her work with looped wire and public fountains, but she was also, at heart, an educator who believed in the importance of teaching and sharing art with children. The physical environment, regardless of how beautiful or bleak, was always an influential factor on Asawa's art; she studied, from a very young age, the lines, shapes, and empty space that make up the world. Asawa was also influenced by the adults in her life, many of whom became teachers and mentors, offering encouragement and guidance throughout the years. Van Wagoner's illustrations effectively evoke the mood of the narrative, brighter colors reflecting her more carefree youth on a farm in California, and then later, more muted, darker tones for World War II when she and her family were forced into internment camps. Images and perspectives from her youth and adulthood adroitly complement the straightforward, expository text. VERDICT This is a solid choice for picture book biography collections.--Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA