Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos

by Monica Brown, John Parra (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735842694
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	09/05/2017
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	99,070
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Monica Brown, PhD, is the award- winning author of Waiting for the Biblioburro/ Esperando el Biblioburro, Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/no combina, and the Lola Levine chapter book series, including Lola Levine Is Not Mean; Lola Levine, Drama Queen; and Lola Levine and the Ballet Scheme. She lives in Arizona with her family and teaches at Northern Arizona University. Find out more at www.monicabrown.net.

John Parra is an award-winning illustrator, designer, teacher, and fine art painter. His children’s books have earned many awards, including the SCBWI Golden Kite Award, ALA’s Pura Belpré Honors, the Christopher Award, the International Latino Book Award, and many more. In 2015 John was invited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to present a special event about his work and career in art and illustration; and in 2017 John’s art appeared on six Forever postal stamps from the USPS titled “Delicioso.” He lives with his wife, Maria, in Queens, New York. Find out more at: www.johnparraart.com

Editorial Reviews

08/07/2017
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.)

Publishers Weekly

With their folk-art sensibility, Parra’s elegant acrylic paintings evoke Kahlo’s style, her palette and her Mexican environment, but he creates a mood of harmony with the natural world and a lively, cheerful abundance all his own.

New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2017

Featuring charming visuals and lively, often lyrical prose, this picture book introduces Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, interweaving biographical details while highlighting her special relationships with pets...Rich-hued, folk art–style illustrations incorporate evocative touches, fanciful details, and collagelike compositions.

Booklist - Shelle Rosenfeld

08/01/2017
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

School Library Journal

2017-06-19
Frida Kahlo's strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography. Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of "her life as a little girl." The author's note adds important details about Kahlo's life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo's style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo's life. A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

With their folk-art sensibility, Parra’s elegant acrylic paintings evoke Kahlo’s style, her palette and her Mexican environment, but he creates a mood of harmony with the natural world and a lively, cheerful abundance all his own.

New York Times

Featuring charming visuals and lively, often lyrical prose, this picture book introduces Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, interweaving biographical details while highlighting her special relationships with pets...Rich-hued, folk art–style illustrations incorporate evocative touches, fanciful details, and collagelike compositions."

Booklist

Lively animal sounds and the soothing voice of narrator Adriana Sananes make this a joyful listen for kids. Episodes in the life of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo show her happy times as a young girl and her difficult time after the bus accident that left her permanently injured. Through it all, Frida’s many pets and creatures, such as Bonito the parrot and her spider monkeys, named Fulang Chang and Caimito de Guayabal, were a source of inspiration and comfort. Instead of focusing heavily on the depressing aspects of the artist’s life, the author uses her ANIMALITOS to highlight Frida’s spirit, curiosity, and imagination. An author's note explains Kahlo’s artistic influence and lists the works in which her ANIMALITOS appear, so parents can pair this audiobook with images of Kahlo’s paintings. S.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2018 - AudioFile