I recently went through all my old blog posts to create an index of the historical figures covered in my picture book reviews. Currently there are over fifty people organized alphabetically with links to the reviews, so be sure to check it out!
Today I’m adding to that list with four picture books about Mary Cassatt. I’ve organized them according to recommended age, starting with a sweet picture book.
Baby Loves by William Lach, illustrated by Mary Cassatt (Atheneum Books, 2003)
This simple board book accompanies reproductions of Cassatt paintings with sets of rhyming words. Basic info about each painting is listed at the end. Although it doesn’t teach about Cassatt’s life, it’s a lovely way to familiarize young children with her paintings. Recommended for ages 0 to 2.
Suzette and the Puppy: A Story About Mary Cassatt by Joan Sweeney (B.E.S. Publishing, 2000)
This picture book is the fictionalized story behind the painting Little Girl in a Blue Armchair, rather than a biography of Cassatt. Cassatt makes an appearance as a tall lady with a dog whom Suzette often meets in the park in Paris. At the end the reader discovers her identity when she arrives at Suzette’s house to paint her portrait. The story is not too long, charming and a little silly. The illustrations are water colours. The author’s note is a brief bio of Cassatt. Recommended for ages 4 to 6.
Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter by Barbara Herkert, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (Henry Holt and Co., 2015)
The short text in this picture book conveys Cassatt’s spirit and art in a few words. The illustrations fit well with her paintings. The author’s note is a two page bio. Also included is a list of a dozen sources. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Mary Cassatt: Family Pictures by Jane O’Connor , illustrated by Jennifer Kalis (Grosset and Dunlap, 2003)
Written as a school report, this biography is relatable for children, making childlike observations, which encourage them to think about Cassatt’s personality, art, and historical context. The illustrations include many reproductions of her paintings, along with cartoonish pictures and speech bubbles. This book is the most informative of those I reviewed, including basic information along with interesting points, like how women dressed at the time and why Cassatt didn’t paint men. Recommended for ages 6 to 10.