Dream builder The story of architect Philip Freelon

PreS-Gr 3--Philip Freelon (1953--2019) was an artist, an architect, and a dreamer. This book begins with a peek into Freelon's childhood. Lyons explores both his strengths and his struggles: his ability to excel at math and science as well as his challenge to learn to read. Lyons discusses her subject's family, including mentions of his siblings, and his mother's and his father's occupations. His grandfather, who was a Harlem Renaissance artist, made a large impact on Freelon. He helped his grandson appreciate the small things in life. The narrative continues through Freelon's high school experience, then follows his college career attending Hampton University and later North Carolina State. Lyons adds several references to the civil rights movement: Freelon watched Dr. King's speech on TV and his father experienced segregation when traveling for business. An interesting page discusses Freelon's research in discovering architects of other cultures and races, many of whom were not part of his higher education curriculum. The author highlights his masterwork as the architect of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. VERDICT Freelon was not as well known as architects Frank Lloyd Wright or Ludwig Mies van der Rohe but hopefully, with the exposure gained from biographies such as Lyons's, his work and life story can inspire young readers to follow in his footsteps.--Erin Olsen, Hunter College Elementary School, NY

The achievements of award-winning architect Philip Freelon (19532019) are detailed and celebrated in Lyonss carefully crafted picture-book biography. Born into a family of well-known artists (his grandfather was Harlem Renaissance painter Allan Randall Freelon), businesspeople, and educators, young Phil seemed destined to exceland excel he did. Exceptionally gifted in both art and engineering, Freelon found reading a challenge (backward and askew letters in the illustrations suggest dyslexia), but perseverance won out. In high school and college he realized that architecture would best suit his talents; when he noticed a lack of representation in his studies, he sought to learn all he could about African and Islamic architects. His commitment and drive led Freelon to what he called the pinnacle of my career: his role as lead architect for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In a nod to the architectural process, Freelons story is told in five brief parts, entitled Vision, Foundation, Frame, Form, and Dream. Freemans illustrations seamlessly incorporate architectural elements (shadows of well-known buildings, gridlines, etc.) into the brilliantly hued digital illustrations. Back matter includes an afterword by Freelon as well as Lyonss authors note describing her time interviewing him before his death. A bibliography is appended. Eboni Njoku March/April 2020 p.104(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Philip Freelon, the architect of record for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., began life as a little boy who had trouble reading. His grandfather was a Harlem Renaissance painter, his parents were educated professionals, and his older siblings were able students, but Phil struggled. Before long, however, he discovered his love for math, science, and art, and while it took him a little longer to begin reading well, he eventually learned the joy of words, too. Lyons follows Phil from those early years through high school, where he learned he wanted to be an architect, and college at Hampton University (a historically black institution), where he learned about other black architects, to 2008, when Phil met with two other architects as they planned to enter a competition to design and build the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Freeman's illustrations have an appropriately clean-lined look that complements the theme; her pages are populated by faces from black history as well as those of Phil and his family. Closing with an afterword by Freelon himself, this book will inspire children who have trouble reading, like Phil, and those who aspire to have careers as artists and architects. Both an inspiration and an excellent companion for a trip to the museum its subject designed. (Picture book/biography. 5-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.