Photographs the Truth
Calkins Creek
(published 3.1.2016)
40 pages
A True Tale
with A Cherry On Top
and Illustrator: Gerard DuBois
C character: Dorothea Lange
O verview from the jacket flap:
"From the time she was a little girl, Dorothea Lange saw the world with her eyes and her heart. Before she ever owned a camera, she knew she was born to be a photographer. It didn't matter that polio made it difficult for her to walk. It didn't matter that girls weren't supposed to be photographers.
To take her pictures, Dorothea deliberately blended into the background. She used her phtogorsaphs to tell the stories of the people the world ignored - the homeless, the jobless, the poor.
In this powerful and inspiring book, Barb Rosenstock and Gerard DuBois reveal the story of Dorothea's remarkable life and illuminate how her photographs continue to tell the world the truth."
T antalizing taste:
"Dorothea leaves her comfortable life and takes her camera on the road. She scans dirt lanes, peers down back paths, and squints up broken stops. Fathers stoop in fields, working for pennies. Mothers nurse sick children, lying thirsty in makeshift tents. Whole families live in jalopies - blown out by the dust storms wracking the land.
Dorothea limps [from childhood polio] toward these hungry strangers.
Her heart knows all about people the world ignores."
and something more: I was interested to learn from the back matter of Dorothea's Eyes that Dorothea Lange's "photographs influenced John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath and Lange is listed in The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time by Deborah Felder. Despite decades of ill health from ulcers and post-polo syndrome, Dorothea Lange continued photographing faces - from strangers on five continents to her adored grandchildren - until the end of her life." And as a San Francisco Museum of Modern Art docent, I am pleased that I can now share more about Dorothea Lange with students who visit the museum and see the photos by Dorothea Lange.
14 comments:
I have always been intrigued by Lange's photographs. I'll have to look for this book. Come see what my week was like here. Happy reading!
I've read this book and enjoyed Dorothea's story very much. It's inspiring to hear how people carried on despite personal challenges. Thanks!
I also loved this book!
Hi Kathy,
Yes, her photos are quite powerful, aren't they. Thanks for stopping by, and yes I'm off to see what you've been doing this week.
Hi Linda,
Yes, I think the picture book biographies that show how people carry on through adversity are the ones that often resonate with children.
thanks for stopping by!
Hi Cheriee,
Yes! It's a lovely book, isn't it? Thanks for stopping by!
Such a great story - I love picture book biographies, especially biographies of lesser known individuals who deserve to be better known!
I love Lange's work - so this book is very tempting for me to purchase. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jane,
Yes, it's always wonderful for children to learn about the lesser known individuals and hopefully be inspired by their stories.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Tara,
Yes, I do too! I think this book captures Lange's work and inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
I loved this book! I new of Dorothea's work, but the book really opened my eyes about her story, influence, etc.
There was such a gap in the kid lit world around Dorothea Lange. I'm so glad to have a beautiful picture book to fill it.
Hi Annette,
I agree that it's wonderful that the kid lit world now has this terrific book about Dorothea Lange.
thanks for stopping by!
Hi Kellee,
I'm so glad you like this book. Yes! It's a great introduction to her life and work.
thanks for stopping by!
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