View on Biblioguides
Until a few years ago, I had never heard of the term "picture book biography." Surely, I had read some, but I had no idea this was a distinct category of books. In our earliest interviews with Biblioguides, I heard Tanya repeatedly emphasize the value of reading a picture book biography or two each month. At first, I wondered how there could possibly be so many to choose from, let alone appreciate. But as I started looking, I discovered a treasure trove of them! More importantly, I noticed that excellent publishers like Waxwing Books were eager to produce more of these gems.
To date, my favorite picture book biographies include Big Machines about Virginia Lee Burton published by Clarion Books, and Because Barbara about Barbara Cooney, published by Waxwing Books. These two books set the gold standard for me because of the magical way they capture their subjects through both illustration and verse. I am happy to report that Painting Wonder by Katie Wray Schon, the newest Waxwing, is another excellent addition to this style.
One of the joys of picture book biographies is that they provide a window into the life of someone worthy of consideration. Some of these books lean toward an adult audience, sprinkling in details that may be difficult for a child to fully appreciate but delightful for an older reader to discover. A Mind of Her Own is a great example of this—while children will enjoy the book, an older Agatha Christie fan will find even more to love.
What makes Painting Wonder particularly delightful is that it was written specifically for children, especially those who are familiar with the works of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. The story is simply told, remains focused on elements that will engage young readers, and traces the fascinating path of Pauline Baynes’s life.
Boy readers, in particular, may find themselves captivated by the WWII pages, where Baynes’s work as a mapmaker for the Allied Navy is vividly drawn.
What struck me most about this book was its illustration – especially two things: the way Schon conveys movement, and the way she divides the page into engaging vignettes. The “drop everything” WWII page was utterly mesmerizing. It immediately grabbed my attention, making me want to study every detail. The sense of movement in that scene is so alive that I felt drawn into something real.
I would recommend Painting Wonder to anyone who loves picture book biographies, fans of Pauline Baynes’s illustrations, and admirers of Tolkien and Lewis. This book would make a wonderful addition to storytime and would also be a lovely baby gift.