Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made

Gr 3-6--William Morris was truly a Renaissance man, even though he lived in Victorian England. In celebrating Morris's life, the author focuses on the design icon as an artist, environmentalist, and world traveler. Sparse on historical detail but rich in imagery, this biography presents the opportunity to see the world as Morris did; full of the connections and beauty found in nature. Disturbed by the mass production of goods and the resulting pollution of the environment resulting from England's Industrial Revolution, Morris made the conscious decision to promote handmade items and support the arts and crafts movement of the period. The book's appealing illustrations are reminiscent of Morris's style as an artist. They contain connecting images viewed from various perspectives and reflect his passion for nature. Artisans of the period are depicted creating handmade works of art using the tools and materials of the era. Back matter includes an author's note, an illustrator's note, and a list of resources. VERDICT This title would be a good addition for libraries wishing to expand their picture book biography section or build a collection of books on lesser-known historical figures.--Lynne Stover

In the midst of the Industrial Revolution, while factories churned out pollution alongside mass-produced goods, British artist William Morris (1834-1896) led a quiet rebellion of "beautiful useful things," rendering patterns of vines and flowers, making them into textiles and papers, and starting a press to print books. "In William's workshop, each pattern, wallpaper, tapestry, and rug... was conceived by the heart and made by the hand." Via illustrations that employ Arts and Crafts movement aesthetics, Stacey starts with the oak leaves, vines, birds, and insects that Morris encounters as a child, using them as motifs throughout to frame vignettes that underscore the organic forms of Morris's work. Lilting lines by Kephart slip into verse and out again ("with his friends, he began--/ to sketch, to paint, to knot, to sew,.../ to shape, to cut, to loom, to know,/ what the hands could do,/ when the eyes would see") in a volume about considering beauty that is itself beautiful, and restful, too. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)