In the "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists"series, Mike Venezia has made a career out of writing basic but solid introductions to the art world's big names. An artist himself, Venezia's gimmick is to sprinkle cartoon-like commentaries along with the Real McCoy. Sometimes these efforts leave the reader wondering why the space wasn't used for more reproductions of real art, but in the case of Lange, it works. Venezia's double-page spread explaining the Great Depression to youngsters is brilliantly keyed right to their level, as is his cartoon that succinctly explains Lange's divorce. Dorothea Lange's photography takes over from there, as it should. Her work is gripping--from a study of her own polio-stricken foot to her unforgettable images of poverty-stricken migrant workers. The end result is a successful introduction to Lange's work and to the art of photography. 2000, Children's Press,