Who Was Norman Rockwell? by Sarah Fabiny

Who Was ...? biography series for middle grade presents talented artist – Norman Rockwell who was an artist best known for covers of the Saturday Evening Post and for portraying an ideal version of American culture. 

Norman Perceval Rockwell (1894-1978) was born in NYC. Norman’s father liked sketching while Norman would watch him. And when his father read, Norman would imagine the characters and draw them. 

His mother was often sick and while his father took care of her, Norman was left to fend for himself. He filled the time with sketching. He was good at it and wondered if he could do it for a living.

His teacher noticed his talent and encouraged him to do drawings along his school reports and on the chalk board at school. The other students were impressed by his work and Norman felt appreciated. 

When time came to pick a school, he chose art school. At school, he had very good mentors. The teachers challenged their students with their projects. One of the teacher’s recognized Norman’s talent and encourage him to submit his portfolio to a publishing company. 

He was asked to create illustrations for children’s book. Afterwards, he started acquiring also projects for magazines. 

His illustrations were relatable with reader’s situations. Thus, people loved them. 

On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the “Four Freedoms” speech. He wanted people to understand that the US had a responsibility to help its allies fight for democracy. 

Norman was excited about relating Four Freedoms in drawings to help Americans understand the importance of this. His paintings of Four Freedoms became so popular; they raised a lot of money for the war effort. 

He remains to be a beloved American artist; an artist who looked inside every day American’s soul and brought the emotions and memories to the surface and presented it in pictures. That’s why his work resonated with people so much. This biography captures the spirit of an artist who knew how to communicate with people through his art.

This illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts. 

Published in 2019 by Penguin Workshop

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Develop Habits

 

Traits:

·         He had very strict habits

·         He used his talent to enhance his reports and got noticed

·         He had good mentors who challenged him

·         He used his creativity to paint pictures in order to find bridge between words and what they meant

·         His painted words resonated with the people

 

“When I go to farms or little towns, I am always surprised at the discontent I find.” – Norman Rockwell

Harry Houdini by Kjartan Poskitt

 This First Names biography series for middle grade brings the greatest magician in the world namely Harry Houdini. 

Ehrich Weisz was born on March 24, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. He later named himself Harry Houdini. When he was four, the family moved to the US. The family settled in Appleton, Wisconsin. They were always short on money, and due to the financial hardship Harry tried to cheer his mom up from early age. And that’s when he discovered that he liked to entertain people. 

Since he was very athletic, he started practicing acrobatics to entertain people. 

At elven, he got fascinated with locks and figured out how to open them with buttonhook. 

When his father took him to a magician show, Harry knew right away what he wanted to do. He wanted to put people on the edge of their seat. 

When he was fourteen, the family moved to New York. There with a friend, they formed an act and called it the Brothers Houdini. Besides it, Harry picked up any act he could where he also learned valuable skills from other people. 

He constantly worked on new skills to satisfy audience. He figured out a new entertainment to be handcuffed and since he figured out locks as a child it was very easy for him to un-cuff himself. It became a big hit. 

After eight tough years, he got his break when he got an offer to appear in some of the biggest and best theaters in America. His stunts took him to Europe and even Russia. 

He continued to develop new stunts. His success took him into starring in movies. 

He died at fifty-two from health complications. 

This biography exemplifies a man who continuously kept himself busy with training, improving himself, hungry for new tricks, new places to visit and the latest inventions to explore. He became known for his death-defying escapes. His complicated tricks and the secrets turned him into the greatest magician in the world.

This biography series for young readers, 8-12 years, is written with a fun language. Some of the illustrations are in a form of comic book, which carry amusing dialogue.

Published by Harry N. Abrams in 2019

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: Never Stop Learning

 

Trends:

 

·         He liked cheering his mother up from childhood and that’s when he discovered his talent.

·         He was athletic and combined it with his first talent of entertaining people.

·         When he saw a magician show, he knew right away who he wanted to be. He wanted to put people on the edge of their seat.

·         He picked up any act he could while learning valuable skills from other people.

·         He constantly worked on new skills to satisfy audience.

·         He got his break after 8 years of hard work.

·         He continuously kept himself busy with training, improving himself, hungry for new tricks, new places to visit and the latest inventions to explore.

 

 

“My brain is the key that sets me free.” – Harry Houdini

“Keep up your enthusiasm! There is nothing more contagious than exuberant enthusiasm.” – Harry Houdini 

“Never try to fool children, they expect nothing and therefore see everything.” – Harry Houdini