Reading Metrics
Description
This biography of Mary Cassatt, the free-spirited Impressionist painter, follows her struggles to be an artist in 1860, a time when proper girls certainly weren't artists.
Quick Summary
If your kid loves art or knows someone who stuck with something they loved even when others said they shouldn't, Mary Cassatt's story is a wonderful one to share. This short, easy-to-read book follows young Mary as she dreams of becoming a painter in a time when girls weren't supposed to even consider such things, and it's pretty inspiring to see how she never gave up on her vision. The text is simple enough for early readers but still tells a real story with real stakes, and the illustrations give kids a real sense of her artistic world. It's perfect for read-alouds with kindergarten through third graders or for kids who are just starting to read chapter books on their own. Parents will appreciate that it shows an important female artist who paved the way for others, and the message about following your dreams comes through without being preachy. If your young reader enjoys books about trailblazers, you might also look for titles about other artists or inventors who didn't fit the mold of their time.