Children who have been captivated by the bold, colorful paintings of Jacob Lawrence (1917- ) in the context of African American history lessons now have a chance to learn the full life story of this unique, dedicated artist. Though it's hard for any text to stand on equal footing with artwork this imaginative and strong (25 full-color reproductions from Lawrence's Migration series, Toussaint L'Ouverture series, and more, are included here), John Duggleby has crafted the tale of Lawrence's life into a satisfyingly rich, and quick-moving biography.

As much a history of cultural life in 1930s Harlem as it is the story of Lawrence's upbringing, Story Painter also includes all the details necessary to make Lawrence's personal artistic life spring to life. We see him start experimenting with tempera paints at an after-school program at the same time as he's running off to hear special black history lectures at the Harlem libraries. The dedication to his craft was obvious at a very young age, earning him support from prominent black artists such as Augusta Savage and winning him great working gigs such as the Easel Project, which paid him $23.86 per week for two paintings every six weeks. Museums and gallery owners courted him as soon as he showed his work publicly; by age 30, he was considered America's foremost black artist. A few years later this dizzying ascent took its toll, and Lawrence spent a nine-month stint in a hospital for depression. He soon righted himself, eventually moving to Seattle to become a distinguished art professor and mentor.

Exquisitely designed, Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence builds a relationship between the full-page illustrations and their concurring partnered text that makes this book a visual splendor. The strongest color in a painting, for example, may show up as the background color for the accompanying words, or may be used to make a sidebar snippet of African American poetry pop off the page. The handful of evocative black-and-white photographs of Lawrence feature beautifully drawn borders and are set against rich backgrounds of color. This level of design sophistication and care is reverential to Lawrence and a great reward for all readers who care about art and its pursuit. (Ages 9 to 12)


From Publishers Weekly
Duggleby (Artist in Overalls: The Life of Grant Wood) once again enlarges upon themes in an American artist's life and work to create a gratifying portrait of a particular time and place. Lawrence's expressionistic, stark paintings, in excellent full-page color reproduction, together with an artful layout incorporating the artist's blocky color fields and rhythmic patterns, nicely complement Duggleby's measured account of a materially poor but culturally rich childhood and Lawrence's subsequent struggles and successes. The author subtly works in the effect of the dearth of materials during the Depression on Lawrence's emerging style as well as the artist's mission to convey the legacy of African Americans in his series paintings. The painter's links to the Harlem renaissance, the segregated military, civil rights and black pride movements are explored through anecdotes, photographs, paintings and opening quotes for each chapter, by such contemporaries as Langston Hughes, Fats Waller and Martin Luther King Jr. Excerpts from Lawrence's Toussaint L'Ouverture (1937-1938), Migration of the Negro (1940-1941) and Harriet and the Promised Land (1967) series provide lessons in earlier black history as well as art appreciation, and pave the way for his milestone acceptance in the art world at large. This solid work of biography/art history commemorates an extraordinary living artist and pays tribute to Lawrence's determination, optimism and originality. Ages 6-12. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-A thoughtful, accessible account of the life of one of the pioneers of 20th-century American art. Beginning with Lawrence's birth in 1917, the book touches on the pivotal events of his life and career. The difficulties he has faced as an African American striving to succeed in a white-dominated field are dealt with adeptly. Background information for Lawrence's subjects, including Harriet Tubman and the Great Migration, is worked seamlessly into the text. Duggleby frequently describes the artist's paintings and the influences that led to their creation as a way of allowing readers to see into Lawrence's world through his own artwork. Full-page color reproductions that relate to the discussion face each page of text. The author does his best to present Lawrence's life as a story, which, unfortunately, means including unsubstantiated, potentially fictional dialogue, as well as people's "thoughts." However, youngsters will certainly find this book entertaining, and perhaps even inspirational. Nancy Shroyer Howard's Jacob Lawrence (Davis, 1996) is more of a browser's book; Story Painter is a worthy purchase even if you already have Howard's book.July Siebecker, Hubbard Memorial Library, MACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 5^-8. Some of Jacob Lawrence's thrilling narrative painting series have been adapted for children's books, including The Great Migration (1993) and Harriet and the Promised Land (1993). This handsome biography, with 50 full-page color reproductions and lots of small photos, develops the theme of the artist's personal migration, beginning with his parents' move from the South and then the excitement of the boy Jacob, "Jake," when he moved to Harlem during the artistic renaissance in the 1930s. Lawrence's tempera paintings will invite young people to look closely as they read about the artist's life and work, including his technique and the inspiration he found in the Mexican muralists. There's a short bibliography and brief notes at the back about each painting, but there are no source notes, not even for quotes about how Jake felt and what he imagined. The presentation of Lawrence's historical subjects--Touissaint-Louverture, the Underground Railroad, migration, civil rights, and more--will stimulate group discussion about the African American experience and also about "everyone's search for a better life." Hazel Rochman


Parent's Guide to Children's Media
Parent's Guide to Children's Media Awards II, awards Story Painter with the "Outstanding achievement in children's books-1999." Parent's Guide to Children's Media is a non-profit corporation for the enhancement of the quality of children's media. They are located at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.


Kirkus Reviews
"With the same care that he lavished on his biography of Grant Wood (Artist in Overalls, 1996), Duggleby shows how the vibrant, textured paintings of Jacob Lawrence, 'symbolized the search for a better life by people of all races throughout history.' His chronicle sets forth more than 25 full-color reproductions of Lawrence's rich paintings, many of which illustrate the African-American experience, from the migration from the South to the North to the Harlem Renaissance; the artist also honored such heroic figures as Toussaint L'Ouverture, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. The language Duggleby uses is straightforward but evocative, often allowing the paintings to speak for themselves. Young readers will come away not only with a sense of the life of Lawrence, but with a sense or how artists convey meaning with images instead of words."


Book Description
A well written biography of one of America's famous artists. Jacob Lawrence painted pictures that tell stories about people's lives, triumphs, and struggles. Share this story with students and explore American history through the art of Jacob Lawrence. This is an excellent resource for African American history.(Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council)


Card catalog description
A biography of the African American artist who grew up in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance and became one of the most renowned painters of the life of his people.

ANNOTATION

A biography of the African American artist who grew up in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance and became one of the most renowned painters of the life of his people.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The paintings of Jacob Lawrence tell stories. Stories of enslavement and freedom, of human migration and renaissance, of struggle and of triumph. A collection of these paintings provides the backdrop for this exceptional biography which tells the story of one of our finest living painters--from his family's experience in the great migration North, to his growing up in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance, to his rise as one of the most renowned painters of African American life. 25 full-color reproductions.

FROM THE CRITICS

Parent

A well written biography of one of America's famous artists. Jacob Lawrence painted pictures that tell stories about people's lives, triumphs, and struggles. Share this story with students and explore American history through the art of Jacob Lawrence. This is an excellent resource for African American history.

Parents Guide to Childrens Media

Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence has been awarded for outstanding achievement in children's books 1999. The Parent's Guide to Children's Media is a non-profit corporation for the enhancement of the quality of children's media. They are located at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

The magnificent paintings of Jacob Lawrence fill the pages of this book, which also contains a well-written and fascinating account of his life. During his early years, Lawrence was separated from his mother and sister because she couldn't make enough money to support the family. Finally, she was able to move herself and her children to Harlem. In the 1930's, Harlem was a vibrant neighborhood filled with African-American artists, musicians and business leaders. It was a heady atmosphere, but fearing that he might get involved with a gang, his mother enrolled him in an after-school program that offered art instruction where Lawrence learned about the heroes in African-American history who were never part of the regular school curriculum. They fired his imagination and, although Lawrence eventually dropped out of school to support his family, every spare moment was spent painting. He created a story with forty-one paintings-a tribute to Touissaint L'Ouverture. He continued painting and his work was exhibiting in galleries and museums. He became famous, but fame brought a price-Lawrence suffered from depression and was hospitalized. With help he recovered, relocated to the West Coast, became a professor and continues to paint his story pictures for which he has received accolades from around the world. It is an incredible story accompanied by photographs and reproductions of Lawrence's own art. Story Painter is a book that can be enjoyed over and over, and one that will provide inspiration to all who savor its contents.

Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman