So the first person featured is actually a landscape architect but I’m saying that counts.

I was searching my library catalogue for a novel that was recommended to me when another title caught my eye, a picture book biography of Frank Lloyd Wright. When I got to the children’s section of the library I was fascinated by the section on art and architecture and found two other biographies to review. Now here we are… I hope you’re ready to learn about Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), and Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959).

The Man Who Made Parks: The Story of Parkbuilder Frederick Law Olmsted by Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Song Nan Zhang (Tundra Books, 1999)

A great overview of Olmsted’s life, this picture book also puts him into context by explaining that before him many children grew up in cities with no green spaces. The author talks about Olmsted’s childhood and the different jobs he tried before he found his calling designing parks, starting with Central Park in New York City. The detailed text is complemented by lovely, realistic illustrations. I especially appreciate the pictures of different parks at the end of the book, including the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the land around Niagara Falls. There are no additional resources in the book, but it doesn’t feel incomplete. Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudí by Rachel Rodríguez, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Henry Holt, 2009)

Both the text and illustrations of this book are simpler than the previous book, appealing to a younger audience. It begins with Gaudí’s childhood, showing how he was influenced by his native Catalonia, nature, his father’s work as a metalsmith, the ruins of a monastery, and his studies. It goes on to show his fantastical architecture from whimsical details to huge, daring buildings — and people’s reactions. The author’s note is a brief biography and list of Gaudí’s works, including seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You will also find a list of websites and a selected bibliography. Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

The Shape of the World: A Portrait of Frank Lloyd Wright by K.L. Going, illustrated by Lauren Stringer (Beach Lane Books, 2017)

I’m embarrassed to say I knew next to nothing about Frank Lloyd Wright before writing this post… and some of things I learned aren’t fit for a children’s book! Instead of delving into his tempestuous adult relationships, this book looks at Wright’s journey to becoming one of the most influential architects in the world. As a child he was given geometrical blocks by his mother and he began to see that “every shape was many shapes.” He worked on his family’s farm and nature influenced him greatly, as he grew up to create buildings in harmony with their surroundings. The simple text and illustrations in this book convey Wright’s influences and importance well; it’s fun to spot iconic buildings like Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum. The book ends with both author’s and illustrator’s notes as well as a list of sources and “A Key to the Works of Frank Lloyd Wright Found in This Book.” Recommended for ages 5 to 8.

I enjoyed reading those picture books…the problem is that now I want to visit Barcelona and New York City!