Growing an Artist
The Story of a Landscaper and His Son
-
- $229.00
-
- $229.00
Descripción editorial
Four starred reviews!
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year
From award-winning artist John Parra comes a “heartwarming family story that underscores the value of creativity, passion, and hard work” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) that is “a love letter to sons and their fathers” (BookPage, starred review) based on his childhood experience.
Today is a big day—the first time Juanito gets to help his papi on the job as a landscape architect! Throughout the day, Juanito sketches anything that catches his eye: a nest full of baby birds, a nursery with row upon row of plants and flowers, and more. Father and son travel from house to house, pruning, weeding, mowing, and turning overgrown and chaotic yards into beautiful spaces.
A few of the clients don’t appreciate Papi’s hard work, like Juanito’s classmate who pretends not to see him. But Papi always feels pride in owning his own business and in a job well done. And at the end of the day, Juanito may get the chance to turn his artistic eye toward landscape design—just like his papi.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Parra's autobiographical picture book reflects on how working in his father's landscaping business nurtured his identity as an artist. Stylized acrylic-on-board illustrations capture a series of remarkably detailed outdoor environments as budding artist Juanito joins Papi and coworker Javier, all portrayed with brown skin, in maintaining a yard, visiting a sprawling nursery, and stopping at the city dump to drop off debris for mulching (when the truck bed tips, "All three of us look at one another and shout: ‘¡Híjole!' "). Juanito's sketch pad is close by throughout, and he learns that everything he experiences feeds his imagination: his proudly entrepreneurial father, an overgrown yard, a nest of baby birds, and even a classmate's dismissal all become driving forces "to tell the stories of hardworking, passionate people who make the world more beautiful." An author's note concludes. Ages 4–8.
