Children's Books about Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo

Deciding which book about Diego Rivera or Frida Kahlo to buy for your classroom? In my last post I mentioned using paintings by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo as a center. The best way to introduce such a center is to read a story to give students context about the paintings that they are working on piecing together. There are about a dozen books about both artists that are appropriate for children. Here is my take on a few of them:

Me, Frida
by Amy Novesky, illustrated by David Diaz
This beautifully illustrated book, pinpoints a time in her life when Kahlo struggled with being in the shadow of her famous husband while they lived in San Francisco. I liked the story because it actually tells a story. It is not a book report about Frida Kahlo. I wish there was more Spanish incorporated or translated as a bilingual text. I wish the book used simpler language. There is a metaphor that compares her to a bird and Diego to an elephant that does not make a lot of sense, especially to younger readers.

Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself 
by Margaret Firth, illustrated by Tomie daPaola
This book is written from the viewpoint of a young girl named Frida who chose to do a report on Frida Kahlo because they have the name. This a very cute premise for a very cute book. I love the way the book incorporates actual paintings and photographs. At the same time credit is due to Tomie daPaola for incorporating his own iconic illustrations. The benefit is that students will have a real sense of what Kahlo's paintings look like, but the illustrations fill in the gaps in her life. My only problem with this book is that one of the reasons I like it as well. Because it is written as a book report, it reads like one. Students do not get a story, but rather important facts and information, which can also be very valuable depending on how you want to use the book in your classroom.

Diego Rivera: His World and His World and Ours
by Duncan Tonatiuh
This book does a great job going in detail about Diego Rivera's life. Each page has clear illustrations about the influences he had on his life. I also really like the questions at the end that ask the reader "Would Diego paint..." comparing what Rivera painted and what he would potentially paint if he were alive today. As with other books my critique would be that a child reading this book would clearly learn facts about Diego Rivera, but I do not think they would be able to identify any of his paintings. I wish the story incorporated Rivera's work along side Tonatiuh's illustrations.

Diego
by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeannette Winter
This book holds a special place in my heart because I remember my father reading it to my little sister. I love this story because the Winter incorporates the perfect amount of text for a bilingual children's book. Too often bilingual texts are meant to be read in either Spanish or English. This text is perfect for reading both at the same time because the pages are simple and short. My only critique is that the story does not always flow from page to page. It is not until the end of the story do all the different facts about Rivera's life come together and give life to the book.

Other books worth checking out about Frida and Diego:

Diego Rivera by Mike Venezia (also available for Kahlo)

My Papa Diego and Me by Guadalupe Rivera Marin

Frida by Jonah Winter

Color Your Own Paintings by Women Artists  by Marty Noble