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A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dale Chihuly
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
36 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Mentyka
5 books18 followersI’m a children's writer, teacher and designer and my love is writing for middle-grade children. My books include:
• CHASING AT THE SURFACE, middle grade novel that won the 2016 National Outdoor Book Award in the Children's category
• THINK SMART, BE FEARLESS: A BIOGRAPHY OF BILL GATES
• THE HEART OF THE STORM: A BIOGRAPHY OF SUE BIRD
• B IN THE WORLD, chapter book selected by Seattle Schools for inclusion in their K-5 Gender Kit.
My stories grow from small kernels of truth that explore common themes: fairness (or unfairness), transitions and helping the less powerful find their voice.
I invite you to visit my website at SharonMentyka.com for more information and follow my blog where I offer book reviews, interviews with other authors, and general impressions on the world of writing for children and young adults.
• CHASING AT THE SURFACE, middle grade novel that won the 2016 National Outdoor Book Award in the Children's category
• THINK SMART, BE FEARLESS: A BIOGRAPHY OF BILL GATES
• THE HEART OF THE STORM: A BIOGRAPHY OF SUE BIRD
• B IN THE WORLD, chapter book selected by Seattle Schools for inclusion in their K-5 Gender Kit.
My stories grow from small kernels of truth that explore common themes: fairness (or unfairness), transitions and helping the less powerful find their voice.
I invite you to visit my website at SharonMentyka.com for more information and follow my blog where I offer book reviews, interviews with other authors, and general impressions on the world of writing for children and young adults.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 27, 2024
I really enjoyed this one and so did my daughter. She loved all the colors and looked at them for a long time. The illustrations are stunning. As a parent, I loved the text too and learned about someone new but I’m sure I lost my two-year-old there. She’s a bit young to completely follow along with it.
November 9, 2024
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, with an art history major mom, and as a result I visited a lot of museums and learned about Northwest artists. Dale Chihuly was arguably our most famous local living artist, so I saw a LOT of his glass installations. I have to say that as a younger child they were a bit lost on me – you couldn’t touch or play with them, and they were often mounted far away, or behind plexiglass. As an adult, I’m very proud of Chihuly’s glass, and I recognize it immediately, anywhere I see it around the world – thanks mom! When I saw that there was a picture book biography about Chihuly out from a Seattle publisher, I knew I had to take a look. Author Sharon Mentyka and illustrator Shelley Couvillion's nonfiction picture book A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dale Chihuly is one of the most visually vibrant and beautiful picture books of the year.
In this picture book biography, Mentyka covers the formation, education, and career of Chihuly throughout several decades, and showcases his artistic evolution. She makes a case for Chihuly’s greatness by discussing his artworks, the school he co-founded, and his worldwide fame. However, as you’d expect in a book for children, there is a substantial focus on Chihuly’s younger years, family life, and his first attempts at art. Mentyka’s biography highlights three elements: an ordinary life broken by tragedy, Dale’s fascination with water, and his dedication to glass. In the final pages, Chihuly’s types of glass artworks are identified, a more in-depth biography and family photo from Dale’s childhood and a glassmaking glossary are included, and finally, there’s a timeline of Chihuly’s life events from 1941-2012. The story itself is basic, but the back matter will give young readers a strong starting point to understand one of America’s most talented craftsmen/artists.
As an adult reading a picture book, I was impressed most by those final pages (after the story concludes), which went into further detail about Chihuly’s life and contribution to art. These pages also prompted me to read more on Chihuly’s own website, and look up photos of his artworks for reference. For children, this book’s art alone will undoubtedly inspire their own curiosity and creativity, but delving into the back matter (perhaps with an adult guide) in depth will prompt questions about art-making and Chihuly – it is that intriguing!
And that art – it is especially stunning and attention-grabbing, almost neon in its vibrancy. It feels as though artist Couvillion (who I didn’t realize was someone I followed on Instagram??) understood the assignment deeply, and dove right into a psychedelic rainbow of color. Her medium of watercolors and pens (that’s a guess on the last one) perfectly washes the sky, sea, and land, along with details of architecture and indoor interiors – but the star of her art are the renditions of glass. It’s there in a true kaleidoscope of brights – all bleeding one into the other in layers just like Chihuly’s glass does. In contrast, Couvillion’s figures are flat and slightly boxy, with textures (Chihuly’s curly hair looks like so many waves, or perhaps pasta!), stylized features (look at the hands!), and skillfull shadow and light work. The art alone is worth pouring over again and again and again. Bravo!
Note: One page mentions that Dale lived in an Israeli kibbutz for a few months and that it was a formative experience in his young adulthood. The kibbutz movement was and is a Zionist project. Dale himself is not Jewish. Given the state of the world, this is an authorial choice that deserves more context and interrogation.
In all, A Flash of Color and Light is a celebration of color, light, glass, and Dale Chihuly’s enormous contribution to the field of glassmaking and art.
Recommended for: young ones ages 4+ and the adults who read to them, those interested in picture books about art and biographies of artists, and anyone who appreciates absolutely gorgeous illustrations.
In this picture book biography, Mentyka covers the formation, education, and career of Chihuly throughout several decades, and showcases his artistic evolution. She makes a case for Chihuly’s greatness by discussing his artworks, the school he co-founded, and his worldwide fame. However, as you’d expect in a book for children, there is a substantial focus on Chihuly’s younger years, family life, and his first attempts at art. Mentyka’s biography highlights three elements: an ordinary life broken by tragedy, Dale’s fascination with water, and his dedication to glass. In the final pages, Chihuly’s types of glass artworks are identified, a more in-depth biography and family photo from Dale’s childhood and a glassmaking glossary are included, and finally, there’s a timeline of Chihuly’s life events from 1941-2012. The story itself is basic, but the back matter will give young readers a strong starting point to understand one of America’s most talented craftsmen/artists.
As an adult reading a picture book, I was impressed most by those final pages (after the story concludes), which went into further detail about Chihuly’s life and contribution to art. These pages also prompted me to read more on Chihuly’s own website, and look up photos of his artworks for reference. For children, this book’s art alone will undoubtedly inspire their own curiosity and creativity, but delving into the back matter (perhaps with an adult guide) in depth will prompt questions about art-making and Chihuly – it is that intriguing!
And that art – it is especially stunning and attention-grabbing, almost neon in its vibrancy. It feels as though artist Couvillion (who I didn’t realize was someone I followed on Instagram??) understood the assignment deeply, and dove right into a psychedelic rainbow of color. Her medium of watercolors and pens (that’s a guess on the last one) perfectly washes the sky, sea, and land, along with details of architecture and indoor interiors – but the star of her art are the renditions of glass. It’s there in a true kaleidoscope of brights – all bleeding one into the other in layers just like Chihuly’s glass does. In contrast, Couvillion’s figures are flat and slightly boxy, with textures (Chihuly’s curly hair looks like so many waves, or perhaps pasta!), stylized features (look at the hands!), and skillfull shadow and light work. The art alone is worth pouring over again and again and again. Bravo!
Note: One page mentions that Dale lived in an Israeli kibbutz for a few months and that it was a formative experience in his young adulthood. The kibbutz movement was and is a Zionist project. Dale himself is not Jewish. Given the state of the world, this is an authorial choice that deserves more context and interrogation.
In all, A Flash of Color and Light is a celebration of color, light, glass, and Dale Chihuly’s enormous contribution to the field of glassmaking and art.
Recommended for: young ones ages 4+ and the adults who read to them, those interested in picture books about art and biographies of artists, and anyone who appreciates absolutely gorgeous illustrations.
March 31, 2025
I've long admired Dale Chihuly's art and enjoyed learning more about the artist. The author begins with Dale Chihuly's youth, and how colors, light, and water fascinated him. While young, Chihuly learned to deal with loss: first his older brother died, followed by Dale's father. Dale and his mother became a team. He started college but became restless and traveled to Europe experimenting with watercolors. He lived in Israel for a while and tried glass making. Back in the Northwest, he continued learning about making glass and working with other glass artists. But tragedy struck again. Glass in a car accident destroyed his sight in one eye. (I did not know how this happened.) Dale had to relearn glassmaking. He persisted and now successfully exhibits his art around the world. The author describes Dale's method of making glass with a team of glass artists who had become his "family." The Back matter includes more information on Dale's life, the evolution of glass making, a Glossary and a Timeline. Illustrator Shelley Couvillion's striking colorful art helps explain Dale's glass making. I recommend this book for older elementary students and anyone curious about Dale Chihuly and the making of his outstanding glass art pieces.
July 19, 2024
Thank you to Sasquatch books and Publishers Weekly for a digital ARC of this book!
I love Dale Chihuly's glasswork! I look for it everywhere I go. I have seen gigantic glass sculptures in my local arboretum, my hospital, and an art museum in Oklahoma City. There are also smaller pieces in other art museums that I have visited. No matter the size, his work is beautiful and distinctive. If you have never seen his work, I encourage you to do an on-line search. The illustrations in the book are lovely but they don't do the glass justice. Pictures are great but seeing it in person is best.
Once Chihuly discovered his passion, he gradually gathered a team of glass blowers to help him create his masterpieces. As the author says, the students learned that "It's important for artists to take risks, and mistakes can lead to new discoveries."
Many people do not know that Chihuly was in a car accident that resulted in blindness in his left eye -which resulted in learning how to adapt glass blowing to his vision loss.
This book provides a great introduction to Chihuly. I also recommend World of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly by Jan Greenberg.
I love Dale Chihuly's glasswork! I look for it everywhere I go. I have seen gigantic glass sculptures in my local arboretum, my hospital, and an art museum in Oklahoma City. There are also smaller pieces in other art museums that I have visited. No matter the size, his work is beautiful and distinctive. If you have never seen his work, I encourage you to do an on-line search. The illustrations in the book are lovely but they don't do the glass justice. Pictures are great but seeing it in person is best.
Once Chihuly discovered his passion, he gradually gathered a team of glass blowers to help him create his masterpieces. As the author says, the students learned that "It's important for artists to take risks, and mistakes can lead to new discoveries."
Many people do not know that Chihuly was in a car accident that resulted in blindness in his left eye -which resulted in learning how to adapt glass blowing to his vision loss.
This book provides a great introduction to Chihuly. I also recommend World of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly by Jan Greenberg.
July 20, 2024
Dale Chihuly is a magician who transforms ordinary sand into extraordinary art. His large-scale glass sculptures are simply breathtaking. With installations around the world, his work is a must-see for any art lover. If you haven't experienced his artistry firsthand, a quick online search will leave you utterly captivated.
For a deeper dive into Chihuly’s life and work, A Flash of Color and Light by Sharon Mentyka is a wonderful starting point. This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to the artist, following his journey from a Tacoma boy to a globally renowned glass master. It’s fascinating to learn about his studio life and the evolution of his artistic vision.
While the book’s illustrations are stunning and the story engaging, I found the singular focus on Chihuly’s art to be somewhat limiting. A statement declaring glassblowing as the ultimate life pursuit feels disproportionate in a narrative that also highlights friendship, family, and teamwork.
Nevertheless, A Flash of Color and Light is a visually captivating book that will undoubtedly inspire readers to explore Chihuly’s work further.
For a deeper dive into Chihuly’s life and work, A Flash of Color and Light by Sharon Mentyka is a wonderful starting point. This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to the artist, following his journey from a Tacoma boy to a globally renowned glass master. It’s fascinating to learn about his studio life and the evolution of his artistic vision.
While the book’s illustrations are stunning and the story engaging, I found the singular focus on Chihuly’s art to be somewhat limiting. A statement declaring glassblowing as the ultimate life pursuit feels disproportionate in a narrative that also highlights friendship, family, and teamwork.
Nevertheless, A Flash of Color and Light is a visually captivating book that will undoubtedly inspire readers to explore Chihuly’s work further.
July 19, 2024
Thanks to Publishers Weekly and Sasquatch books for an e-galley of this book.
My two favorite artistic media are glass and watercolor, so I am predisposed to adore this book. Gorgeously illustrated in vibrant watercolors, this picture book biography of Dale Chihuly is easy to read and will provide encouragement for aspiring artists. I love that the author included the fact that Dale Chihuly wrote to two hundred glass factories in Italy and only one wrote back. Young readers need concrete examples of perseverance in the face of disappointment.
I like that the book shows how much study, experimentation, planning and teamwork have gone into creating Chihuly's art. There is a glossary in the backmatter as well as a timeline that provides fascinating information beyond what's found in the text.
The illustrator does a perfect job of capturing the grey, wet days in the Pacific Northwest as well as the beautiful sunny summertime weather of Chihuly's hometown.
Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. It's just wonderful!
My two favorite artistic media are glass and watercolor, so I am predisposed to adore this book. Gorgeously illustrated in vibrant watercolors, this picture book biography of Dale Chihuly is easy to read and will provide encouragement for aspiring artists. I love that the author included the fact that Dale Chihuly wrote to two hundred glass factories in Italy and only one wrote back. Young readers need concrete examples of perseverance in the face of disappointment.
I like that the book shows how much study, experimentation, planning and teamwork have gone into creating Chihuly's art. There is a glossary in the backmatter as well as a timeline that provides fascinating information beyond what's found in the text.
The illustrator does a perfect job of capturing the grey, wet days in the Pacific Northwest as well as the beautiful sunny summertime weather of Chihuly's hometown.
Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. It's just wonderful!
August 3, 2024
Oh wow! Got a preview from PW grab-a-galley. I want to own this when it comes out. The artwork is amazing, there's a lot of history on glass making. A great addition to the bookshelves of any artist of any age. It's light on the details of Chihuly's life and focuses more on the art, though. I think it works well for inspiration (appears to be the goal of the series, so successful there) but as far a a biography goes, it's lite.
Example: Dale's brother died in a terrible accident. I can imagine certain kids getting hung up there. What kind of accident? The adjective calls up the question, whereas if it was a car accident, a hunting accident, plane, whatever, the sentence would tell the story and flow instead of calling up a question. Maybe if you want a setup for a research project, but why not say? Also, it was a Navy training accident (did the research) and it's interesting that Dale's brother was so much older. That's biography material.
So for once I graded up to 5 stars instead of down to 4.
Great gift for artists of any age.
Example: Dale's brother died in a terrible accident. I can imagine certain kids getting hung up there. What kind of accident? The adjective calls up the question, whereas if it was a car accident, a hunting accident, plane, whatever, the sentence would tell the story and flow instead of calling up a question. Maybe if you want a setup for a research project, but why not say? Also, it was a Navy training accident (did the research) and it's interesting that Dale's brother was so much older. That's biography material.
So for once I graded up to 5 stars instead of down to 4.
Great gift for artists of any age.
July 22, 2024
I received an electronic ARC through Sasquatch Books from the PW Grab-a-Galley Summer 2024/Edeleweiss+.
Beautifully illustrated biography of Dale Chihuly. Readers see him as a child learning and as a young man starting his career. Mentyka then follows his artistic journey through his latter years. Both Mentyka and Couvillion capture the brilliant colors and creativity in his work and life. I appreciate the language level so elementary level readers can read this on their own. The artwork will draw them in and the text will keep them interested. Don't miss the informative text and timeline included at the end.
Beautifully illustrated biography of Dale Chihuly. Readers see him as a child learning and as a young man starting his career. Mentyka then follows his artistic journey through his latter years. Both Mentyka and Couvillion capture the brilliant colors and creativity in his work and life. I appreciate the language level so elementary level readers can read this on their own. The artwork will draw them in and the text will keep them interested. Don't miss the informative text and timeline included at the end.
July 24, 2024
The five for this is not because it is the best book ever (though it does come close) but how unique it is. The art of glassblowing is probably one of these least known arts (or in my unscientific opinion). And especially unknown to most kids. The watercolor images are perfect for the subject and are overall amazing. I would like to know more about his team, however, so can we have a longer picture book? Or a medium length non-fiction biography? (Please and Thank you). And while the publisher description says ages 5 and up, I think if you know how to adapt it to the classroom, you can do it for any age, even the high school level. And for certain adults will enjoy.
May 1, 2024
A Flash of Color and Light is a wonderful biography of Dale Chihuly's life for children. The illustrations are gorgeous watercolor designs that perfectly accent the Chihuly's art and style.
I learned a lot of history about Dale Chihuly, and glassblowing in general. It was very detailed for a picture book, and I did wonder if most kiddos would have the attention span to learn that much about Chihuly. However, the illustrations were breathtaking and are sure to keep them engaged.
Thanks to Sharon Mentyka, NetGalley, and Sasquatch Book for the chance to review this one!
I learned a lot of history about Dale Chihuly, and glassblowing in general. It was very detailed for a picture book, and I did wonder if most kiddos would have the attention span to learn that much about Chihuly. However, the illustrations were breathtaking and are sure to keep them engaged.
Thanks to Sharon Mentyka, NetGalley, and Sasquatch Book for the chance to review this one!
July 1, 2024
I am a fan of glass blowing, and thus, a fan of Dale Chihuly's work! This book was beautifully illustrated using colors and light like Chihuly is famous for. Recommended for glass blowing afficionados.
Although the text is relatively simple, this picture book is best suited for older children or adults because it is pretty lengthy. Not recommended for preschoolers / storytime at the library, but I would have read this book aloud to my 5th grade students.
ARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss. Publication date October 15, 2024.
Although the text is relatively simple, this picture book is best suited for older children or adults because it is pretty lengthy. Not recommended for preschoolers / storytime at the library, but I would have read this book aloud to my 5th grade students.
ARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss. Publication date October 15, 2024.
May 9, 2024
This picture book biography has beautiful illustrations, and it tells the story of Dale Chihuly's life and accomplishments in the art world. The author introduces some of the science behind glassblowing, and explains some of Chihuly's techniques very clearly. I would recommend this for elementary-aged kids and up.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2024
This is a great biography! I've admired Chihuly's art for a long time, and I'm glad such a well-written and colorful book has been made for children.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
January 14, 2025
Dale Chihuly is one of my favorite artists. I loved this beautifully illustrated book that tells the story of how he became a master glass artist.
February 26, 2025
Absolutely beautiful book about beautiful art and the man who creates it. I was lucky to see a Dale Chihuly exhibit with my family in the 90s in Chicago and it was so beautiful!!!
May 2, 2025
My biggest annoyance with this book was the lack of a single photo of this modern artist's art. The illustrations are lovely, certainly, but the end note could have includes a photo.
June 2, 2025
Another beautiful biography about glass artist Dale Chihuly. Denser text makes it a great read for older elementary and middle school students.
July 31, 2025
Biography of the glass artist along with a tutorial on some basics of creating glass sculptures.
March 19, 2025
I was looking forward to this title on the Pacific Northwest glass artist Dale Chihuly as I had seen some of his work on Cape Cod several years ago, yes Cape Cod and reading the time line I now see that Chihuly obtained a degree from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1968 and didn’t return to the Pacific Northwest till almost twenty years later. Vibrant colors in the illustrations were wonderful.
Essentially I didn’t enjoy the text as it didn’t flow well and would have been helped with some editing, not really the type of text one expects in a picture book.
And while the illustrations are colorful and can remind one of Chihuly’s works, there were the people with the strangely created eyes which make me think they are created by computer.
Essentially I didn’t enjoy the text as it didn’t flow well and would have been helped with some editing, not really the type of text one expects in a picture book.
And while the illustrations are colorful and can remind one of Chihuly’s works, there were the people with the strangely created eyes which make me think they are created by computer.
February 19, 2025
Great book for kids and really easy to understand
October 19, 2024
This fantastic book relates the life of the famous artist Dale Chihuly, who revolutionized the art of glass blowing. This lesser known art form is not something that most adults know anything about, let alone children. I found the book educational as well as inspirational. The story explores Chihuly's early life as well as his career. Children will empathise with the hardships of family loss. The book mentions the fact that he needed to relearn his artform after a car accident caused the loss of sight in one one eye. This fact can help children learn that disabilities can be overcome and one can still be successful. The book is written in simple language that school age children can easily understand. The author mentions that Chihuly loved the water and that it influenced his love of blown glass which is also fluid and reflects color and light. Artist Shelley Couvillion has appropriately illustrated the book with absolutely beautiful watercolor illustrations. The vivid colors and fanciful illustrations are enchanting. The book also contains an afterward with a glossary and a timeline. This book is a fantastic introduction to both the art form and the artist. There is only one thing missing. Any book about an artist, should really include a few photos of their work. I wish that there has been a few included in the afterward. Although this is a picture book, the page count and word choice make this a book for school age and older.I recommend this book for any young biography fan and for art lovers of any age. It can also be used in the classroom. Teachers at any grade level could make use of this book in a lesson about the art form. I would pair it with photos from the internet of some of the actual installations.
I received access to an electronic review copy of this book through Publisher's Weekly Grab a Galley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I received access to an electronic review copy of this book through Publisher's Weekly Grab a Galley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
December 30, 2024
I was surprised and pleased to see another title in the Growing to Greatness series spotlighting a person from the Pacific Northwest. In this case, it's the brilliant and creative mind of Dale Chihuly whose glass artworks will be instantly recognizable once you Google it. I enjoyed learning more about someone I was only vaguely familiar with.
October 21, 2024
I love this gorgeous picture book about the life of Dale Chihuly! I've been a longtime admirer of his glass work and recently visited the Glass Museum in Tacoma, Washington, the city where Dale grew up. I enjoyed reading how Dale learned about glass work and gained an education and experience that propelled him into his brilliant career. A Flash of Color and Light is vibrant with color and dreams. A fascinating read. Two thumbs up!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews