Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos

by Monica Brown (Author) John Parra (Illustrator)

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor 2018

ALA Notable Children's Book 2018

New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2017

Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2017

Smithsonian Top Ten Best Children's Book of 2017

2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, written by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra, is based on the life of one of the world's most influential painters, Frida Kahlo, and the animals that inspired her art and life.

The fascinating Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, her dramatic works featuring bold and vibrant colors. Her work brought attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and she is also renowned for her works celebrating the female form.

Brown's story recounts Frida's beloved pets--two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn--and playfully considers how Frida embodied many wonderful characteristics of each animal.
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Kirkus Reviews

Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo's style and color palette.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4--Two well-known children's book creators present the life of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo through the kid-friendly lens of her animal friends. Kahlo's life as a young girl at La Casa Azul was marked by the support of her family, illness, and her "animalitos," or the many pets and creatures that she loved. Each spread introduces a new animal, from Bonito the parrot to her spider monkeys Fulang Chang and Caimito de Guayabal. The text often makes comparisons between the featured critters and the independent, free-spirited girl and budding artist. Throughout, Brown makes references to Kahlo's love of and inspiration by her Aztec culture, which was often seen in her art and evidenced by her pets' names. The picture book biography touches only briefly upon some of the artist's life-changing events, such as the accident she experienced in her teens or her marriage to Diego Rivera, but instead emphasizes the companionship of the animals with which she surrounded herself. Parra's lively acrylic paintings pay tribute to the vibrant hues of Kahlo's paintings, and her ties to her Mexican and Aztec heritage are apparent. A detailed author's note about the subject's life, art, and influence concludes the book and lists the many works in which her animalitos appear. VERDICT This unique and gorgeous take on the famous figure's work will give children an accessible entry point to an important artist. A good choice for picture book biography shelves.--Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Brown uses the pets and animals in Frida Kahlo's life--spider monkeys, a parrot, and a fawn, among others--to emphasize aspects of her personality as she developed into an artist: "Frida's turkeys were intelligent and sensitive, just like her. And, like Frida, her dogs were warm and loving." Along with highlighting Kahlo's tender interactions with the animals, Brown shows how art buoyed her during difficult times, including a bus accident at age 18 that left her with persistent health problems. Parra's warm, weathered paintings are done in a flattened, folk-art style that vividly evokes the Mexican environment and "heritage of which she was very proud." Even if readers don't get much of a sense of the work Kahlo created, they'll finish the book feeling like they know the artist. Ages 4-8. Agent: Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (Sept.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes







Monica Brown

Monica Brown is the author of several bilingual books for children inspired by her Peruvian-American heritage. She is a recipient of the Américas Award for Children's Literature and a professor of English at Northern Arizona University.

Julie Paschkis has illustrated many award-winning books, including Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman and Through Georgia's Eyes by Rachel Rodríguez. For Pablo Neruda, Julie traveled to Chile to see Neruda's home and the people that inspired him.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780735843431
Lexile Measure
780
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Northsouth Books
Publication date
May 20, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Art
JNF006040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Art | History
JNF003170 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Pets
JNF038070 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | Mexico
Library of Congress categories
-
Pura Belpre Award
Honor Book 2018 - 2018

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