Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2017 Grant Wood’s iconic painting of a dour couple standing in front of a modest farmhouse is one of the world’s most recognizable, and this picture book biography puts it front and center in the artist’s life. Beginning with Grant Wood’s childhood on an Iowa farm, Susan Wood emphasizes his early love of art and his struggle to find a style for himself among the burgeoning art scene in Europe. After being inspired by some gothic paintings, Grant Wood returns home to the American Midwest, where he meticulously paints his masterpiece and launches a new art movement all his own. MacDonald’s watercolor illustrations show the diligent, bespectacled painter, always clad in denim overalls, looking at art, painting at an easel, and gazing at the rolling Iowa fields he loved so much, and he nicely mimics the bright colors and naturalistic lines of Grant Wood’s own paintings. A closing author’s note offers more comprehensive background. Kids curious about the ubiquitous image will appreciate this genial look at the artist behind the painting. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 K-Gr 3—From humble beginnings sketching corn fields in rural Iowa, overall-clad Grant Wood traversed Europe in search of artistic inspiration only to find it back home in the Depression-era American Midwest. The immense success of American Gothic heralded the style of Regionalism and showcased the hardworking residents of the heartland. Wood's narrative reads like a treasured story about an admired family member. Expertly matched with MacDonald's light-infused illustrations, the retro comic art style and vintage typeface capture the connection between the heart of Grant Wood and the landscapes (and people) that he loved. Designed to be read aloud and enjoyed by all ages, a gentle nudge to follow one's own creative instincts emerges from the straightforward text. Author's notes include photographs, anecdotes, and a time line of the artist's short life. VERDICT An introduction to the artist, the movement, and the famous painting, this book illuminates and exalts the U.S. artist who followed his heart and drew what he knew best. Enjoyable as it is informative, it is a fine purchase for all elementary school libraries.—Jane Miller, Nashville Public Library - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.