Review by Booklist Review
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama was fascinated with dots from a young age, whether espied in a spray of river rocks or the cells of a leaf, but her polka-dotted canvases weren't appreciated by her art teachers. Born in 1929, it wasn't until Kusama moved to New York City as a young woman that she felt free to paint her dots, her way of thinking about the world among the stars . . . of thinking about infinity. Suzuki broadly sketches Kusama's widespread success, referencing her art installations and the proliferation of her patterns, but this simplicity of phrase is illustrated in grand fashion. Using vibrant colors, Weinstein echoes Kusama's spotted perspective on each page, drawing clear parallels to the ways the artist found inspiration in her surroundings, and incorporating many of Kusama's famous creations into the book's joyfully boisterous scenes. These pieces of art are reproduced at the book's end as color photographs, and the two-page spreads of her magical, light-speckled Infinity Mirrored Room and sticker-splotched The obliteration room can't help but fill readers with delight.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-This picture book biography is an ode to the life and work of noted pop artist Yayoi Kusama. Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama grew up under the strict eye of her mother but chafed at the traditional expectations that were laid at her feet and desired instead to pursue art. After an unsatisfactory experience at a Japanese art school, Kusama decamped to New York City to use painting and sculpture to explore the visions and dreams she had experienced since childhood. She eventually found success with her now-famous polka dots and studies of the notion of infinity. This is a gentle portrayal of a beloved artist and the author glosses over the more difficult aspects of her life, instead emphasizing her artwork and the artist's view of the world. Weinstein's illustrations incorporate both a minimalist aesthetic as well as Kusama's cherished polka dots, which appear in every spread, making vibrant and interesting paintings that complement the somewhat dreamy, ethereal story. Photographs of the artist and some of her more famous pieces are included, as well as a brief author's note that shares a bit more detail about her current life. Creamy pages covered in colorful, almost-geometric illustrations make for a beautifully designed, spare narrative of a popular and influential contemporary artist that is just begging to be shared with a wide audience. VERDICT Highly recommended.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (born in 1929) is known for her distinctive polka-dots. Rather than a full-scope biography, this picture book is an origin story and examination of Kusama's artistic worldview. MoMA curator Suzuki writes informatively and accessibly, especially in explaining heady concepts essential to this artist. The illustrations are precise and clean-lined, and Weinstein makes creative use of Kusama's whimsical Pop Art palette and the dot motif. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Avant-garde Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known particularly for her innovative use of mirrors and dots, is the subject of this picture-book biography that effectively captures the essence of her work.Born in 1929 and raised in a traditional setting, the young Kusama chafed against the restrictions placed upon her, fleeing to New York City in her 20s. After struggling in poverty and obscurity, she eventually achieved worldwide fame, continuing to produce new work and draw crowds to this day. The illustrations evoke Kusama's style remarkably well, and the book is enhanced by high-quality photographs of a variety of her pieces. A brief endnote provides additional background information. Unfortunately the text never refers to her lifelong struggle with mental illness, although an early spread shows her as a child drawing in a field, dwarfed by vivid, surreal flowers and pumpkins, a visual reference to the hallucinations that compelled her to create. In not mentioning the relief Kusama has found through art and her voluntary residence in a Japanese mental hospital, the book does nothing to help destigmatize mental health issues.Works for young readers on contemporary non-Western artists are rare, and this visually striking and clearly written, if limited, contribution makes a complex artist's work accessible and appealing. (Picture book/biography. 5-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
