A Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books5stars

 

 

A Treasured Artist

By Mary Blair
Golden Books, $19.99, 160 pages

If you ask adults to name their favorite children’s book, many will likely mention a title from the Golden Books collection. Random House brings readers of all ages a beautiful anthology featuring the work of artist Mary Blair and the five Golden Books she illustrated during the 1950s and 60s. A Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books is just that – a treasure. In Baby’s House, children will delight in following a young girl around her home, examining things that catch her eye. I Can Fly is a design extravaganza. A little girl uses her body, her toys and facial features to imitate her favorite animals. Pillows piled up on her back transforms her into a camel and a white hair ribbon looks like a bunny’s floppy ears. In The Golden Book of Little Verses, Blair brilliantly illustrates thirty-tree short poems. The artwork in The Up and Down Book focuses on opposites and 21 selections from The New Golden Song Book demonstrates Blair’s artistic skill, creative imagination and innate gift for storytelling. Blair’s style has a modern flair and childlike charm. Her use of vibrant colors helps the characters and settings come alive. A forward written by animator John Canemaker gives readers a nice introduction to Blair’s interesting life and successful career.

Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin

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