Review by Booklist Review
Everything about this book spells gentleness and creativity. On large spreads filled with Cochran's primary-color-soaked art in Haring's trademark graffiti-doodle style, the late artist is shown exuberantly creating his work and sharing it with children and others. Young readers will identify with the child Keith who drew everywhere, "'But not on the walls!" as his mother warned. Burgess' description of Haring's early life is lively and poignant, given that adult readers know the sad ending that's coming. In between, however, the author joyfully describes his subject's creations, fun and spontaneous art practices as a child and later as a successful artist, artistic influences, and travels to share his art with the world. Burgess' description of the intense creativity unleashed when Haring moved to New York City and fell in love with subway graffiti will bring home to young artists that the everyday world can be a rich inspiration for their work. Haring's sexuality is mentioned matter-of-factly, when the author notes that the artist fell in love with "a deejay named Juan Dubose" and "together, they were happy." Similarly, Haring's death from "a serious illness called AIDS" is touched upon, but cloaked in Burgess' emphasis that even after the artist's death, his love of art and his passion and determination that art is for everybody lives on.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this picture book biography about artist and muralist Haring, Burgess and Cochran relate their subject's path to focusing his inexorable drive. Via straightforward language, Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college ("He felt as if the book was speaking directly to him"), encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky (he was "blown away"), and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage ("For Keith, drawing and painting were like dancing. He called it 'mind-to-hand flow'"). Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky. Of interest to young readers are Haring's frequent efforts to involve children in mural-making projects. The story, including a respectful acknowledgement of Haring's death from AIDS, makes the subject seem immediate and real--and presents a compelling vision of answering the call to create. Ages 6--14. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--6--This big, beautiful biography of Keith Haring includes illustrations that encapsulate the iconic American artist's work and life. Each page contains a few sentences, but all pages feature full-color artwork that mimics Haring's well-known murals. Cochran's visuals effectively capture the sense of movement and fluidity of Haring's work. The story begins with Haring's childhood and covers the origins of his interest in drawing. Burgess describes the struggle of being an artist in New York City in the 1980s and the city's art scene. The book concludes with a biographical note, an author's note, an illustrator's note, and sources for the quotations that were used. VERDICT This bright literary work is packed with well-researched and well-written biographical notes on Haring's short life and the impact he made on the art world and public art. An ideal choice for primary school through high school libraries, especially ones geographically represented in the story (New York, Pennsylvania).--Samantha Hull, Ephrata H.S., PA
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Review by Horn Book Review
Two colorful picture-book biographies celebrate the life and art of Keith Haring. In Drawing on Walls, much of the focus is on Haring's art-making as a child and the connection he felt with children throughout his career. Art Is Life is more concerned with his inspiration and process, focusing on a few of the artists who influenced him and the effect he had on New York City's creative scene. Burgess includes more biographical information in his longer text, while Brown favors a shorter and more lyrical style that conveys the feeling of Haring's work rather than details of his life. Negley's mixed-media approach is more graphic, while Cochran uses a childlike cartoonish scrawl, but both illustrators emulate the energy of Haring's style in dynamic spreads with bold colors and lines. Both include additional biographical information, with Brown's author's note filling in much of the detail of Haring's life. The illustrators' notes discuss Haring's outsized influence, with both illustrators describing very personal connections to his work. These two books complement each other, with Burgess's the more traditional picture-book biography and Brown's perhaps better suited as a first introduction to Haring or an energetic read-aloud. Laura Koenig January/February 2021 p.124(c) Copyright 2021. 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
"[N]o matter how busy he became or where in the world he went, he always made time for children." Thirty years after Keith Haring's death of AIDS-related complications, this vibrant picture book brings the iconic pop artist's work and story to the hearts of a new generation. Often featuring a bold black line, Cochran's painterly illustrations drive the narrative--bursting with movement and color--utilizing a wide variety of perspectives and both spot and full-bleed illustrations to dance around the text in a suitably neo-expressionist tribute to the subject. Stylized and simplified figures fill the pages with smiling faces in a broad spectrum of skin tones and body types, opening the door on Haring's passionately held belief that "Art is for everybody." Without erasing or dwelling on any particular aspect of Haring's personal life, author Burgess outlines Haring's relationships with art, with children, and with his partner, Juan DuBose, in straightforward, accessible language--from his childhood in Pennsylvania to his "final mark" in Pisa, Italy (five months before his death)--with the same bold honesty and vibrance visible in his subject's art career. Biographical, author's, and illustrator's notes back up the book, supplementing the broad strokes of the text with finer detail and more individual perspectives on Haring's personal, political, and artistic legacies. An inspired, and inspiring, continuation of Haring's intention. (Picture book/biography. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
