Fallingwater: The Building of Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece

by Marc Harshman, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator), Anna Egan Smucker

Overview

In Bear Run, Pennsylvania, a home unlike any other perches atop a waterfall. The water's tune plays differently in each of its sunlight-dappled rooms; the structure itself blends effortlessly into the rock and forest behind it. This is Fallingwater, a masterpiece equally informed by meticulous research and unbounded imagination, designed by the lauded American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

This book guides young readers through Wright's process designing Fallingwater, from his initial inspirations to the home's breathtaking culmination. It is a exploration of a man, of dreams, and of the creative process; a celebration of potential. Graceful prose and rich, dynamic illustrations breathe life into the story of Frank and Fallingwater, a man and home utterly unlike any other.

A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 2017 Blue Ribbon Book

A National Council for the Social Studies Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596437180
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	10/17/2017
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	505,321
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Marc Harshman’s collection of poems, Believe What You Can (West Virginia University Press), and his thirteenth children’s book, One Big Family (Eerdmans), were both published in 2017. His monthly show for West Virginia Public Radio, “The Poetry Break,” began airing in 2016. He was also an invited reader at the 2016 Greenwich Book Festival in London and is the seventh poet laureate of West Virginia.

Anna Egan Smucker is the author of several children's books, including No Star Nights, winner of the International Reading Association Children's Book Award. In addition to writing, reading, and doing author presentations, she loves to hike in the beautiful mountains of her home state of West Virginia.

LeUyen Pham worked in animation before turning to children's books. She has previously written and illustrated The Bear Who Wasn't There and is the illustrator of numerous other picture books including The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman. She lives and works in San Francisco, California, with her husband and her two adorable sons, Leo and Adrian.

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/21/2017
A warm tribute to the creative genius and style of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this picture book takes readers through his process of designing and building the famous home Fallingwater, which helped revive his stalled career, in the 1930s. Harshman (One Big Family) and Smucker (Brother Giovanni’s Little Reward) deliver an often lyrical narration of Fallingwater’s progression. From its inspiration in nature to the sweeping, finished house that sits above a waterfall in rural Pennsylvania, the dwelling is “A house like no other,/ where sun can shine,/ where balconies fly,/ where falling water/ is heard from every room.” The spare text and Pham’s energetic illustrations advance the story steadily. Wright drafts a concept design on deadline as nervous assistants look on; later, builders “Pry and dig and lift,/ stone upon stone upon stone./ Choose and fit and stack,/ stone upon stone upon stone.” Earth tones and blue hues evoke the calm grandeur of the finished, futuristic-looking structure as it soars out and over the waterfall. Author and illustrator notes flesh out additional details about the now-conserved public attraction. Ages 7–10. Illustrator’s agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Beautifully rendered . . . Seamlessly blends together a good story, lyrical language, and deft, supporting artwork. This affectionate tribute should appeal to a very wide audience.” —Booklist, starred review

“A warm tribute to the creative genius and style of architect Frank Lloyd Wright.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Lyrical . . . Filled with brightness and clarity . . . The interplay of creativity and execution are lovingly developed here.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Frank Lloyd Wright's genius is revealed for sophisticated picture book readers.” —School Library Journal

“Young builders/dreamers will be inspired by this romantic picture-book account of the conception, design, and construction of the Frank Lloyd Wright house Fallingwater.” —Horn Book

From the Publisher

09/01/2017
Gr 2–5—Fallingwater, one of the most famous houses ever built, sits atop a waterfall in southwestern Pennsylvania. It's a house that fits in perfectly with its surroundings—the trees, the stream, the rocks, and the waterfall. Inside the rooms, visitors can hear the water falling and see the sun shining in. But how did such a house take shape? That is the story Harshman and Smucker tell. Beginning with Edgar Kaufman's invitation to architect Frank Lloyd Wright to build him a home in this rural setting, the book follows Wright as he walks around the property again and again, thinks about the project for nine months, and finally just two hours before Kaufman visits him to see the plans for the house, puts pencil to paper. Descriptive, lyrical text mirrors the subject matter:"His dreams have made him ready. He sees every boulder, tree, and waterfall. He sees the house that will live among them." Pham's illustrations, done mainly in blues and browns, detail the architectural process as it grows from idea to reality. VERDICT Frank Lloyd Wright's genius is revealed for sophisticated picture book readers.—Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York

School Library Journal

2017-08-27
Late in his career, architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed one of the world's most famous houses.In 1934, Pittsburgh retail magnate Edgar Kaufmann hired Wright to build a house near the waterfalls of Bear Run, Pennsylvania. This book traces Wright's steps through planning, construction, and successful completion of the unusual house nestled in a hillside. The illustrations echo the Japanese print style that inspired Wright's design in spreads paced to underscore the tranquil setting. One vertical double-page spread emphasizes the height of the house jutting over the waterfalls. The book's effectiveness, however, is marred by inconsistencies in text and illustration that seem to be a result of an attempt to appeal to both younger and older children. Languid prose alternates with short, choppy sentences throughout. For instance, the narrative recounts Wright's dreams in stately free verse: "In dreaming this house he will use everything / he has ever seen: stone walls from Wisconsin, / sand and adobe from the Southwest, / towers and trellises from Italy." His client's desire for speed comes in jarringly clipped sentences: "Mr. Kaufmann calls. He is in Wisconsin. / He is coming to visit. / He wants to see the plans. / He will arrive in two hours. / He is coming to see his new house!" This, coupled with the flat, cartoonish depiction of some characters (mostly though not exclusively white), detracts from an otherwise pleasant book. Will provide some inspiration for budding architects. (authors' note, artist's note, bibliography, notes) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews

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