Christensen, Bonnie. (2011). Fabulous : a portrait of Andy Warhol. New York :Henry Holt.
Summary
Andy Warhol is different from other kids, but he does not allow this to get in the way of his talent. Through the support of his mother, art teachers, and later in life, a collective of friends, Andy overcomes adversity to become an iconic figure in the world of art, as well as the world of pop culture of which he so highly admired.
Impressions and Opinions of the Books
Christensen manages to present a figure that could easily be seen as inappropriate for children to learn about in a manner that is not only appropriate, but also in a manner that does not detract from the man that Andy Warhol was. She shares information about his difficult childhood, from his early illness to the death of his father to his cultural background. Christensen has a way of humanizing Warhol in a way that I have not seen before, showing him, at times, to be so quiet and demure. When I draw to mind an image of Warhol, I see the man who is looking for the spotlight and more than his fifteen minutes of fame.
Without taking away from the magnitude of who Warhol was or what he created, Christensen makes Warhol not only relatable, but someone to be admired for more than just the art that he created. The graphic design is a constant reminder of Warhol's unique style and the story gives dimension to the entire being of Andy Warhol.
Full-Text Review
The “fabulous” life of Andy Warhol is made accessible and understandable via this child-friendly look at the life and career of one of America’s most recognizable painters.
Shy, sickly Andy spent many lonely hours resting in bed. Warhol’s mother understood his uniqueness, and instead of forcing him to attend school, stand up to bullies or play sports, she unfailingly nurtured his talents and accepted and supported his interests. Andy attended art classes at the Carnegie Museum art school in Pittsburgh and was encouraged by teachers who also recognized his promise. Comics, movie magazines, glamorous superstars and luminous icons from his Eastern Orthodox parish church fueled his imagination. Christensen effectively re-imagines Warhol’s unmistakable style for 21st-century kids while offering a developmentally appropriate take on Warhol’s life. She focuses on his early graphic work and the exciting, transformative era of Pop Art. She conveys the explosive impact of his Campbell’s soup cans and Marilyn as she discretely limns the early activities of “The Factory.”
Though readers will need to consult the backmatter for the details of the more complex and tumultuous years from the mid-’60s to his death in 1987, they will find this a vital and exciting child-appropriate introduction to an American icon. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Kirkus (2011). [Review of the book Fabulous! a portrait of Andy Warhol by B. Christensen]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/bonnie-christensen/fabulous-portrait-andy-warhol/
Library Uses
Christensen's book would be a great intro to modern/pop culture art. In addition to being a great summary of Andy Warhol's life, the stylization and graphic design of the book brings to mind Warhol's forward thinking take on art. After reading the book, it would be interesting to have students look at something within the library and create their own pop art piece, displaying the works after completion. This would allow students to take a renewed look at the library, connecting also to Warhol and their own inner artist.
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