Wideness and Wonder: The Life and Art of Georgia O'Keeffe

by Susan Goldman Rubin

Continuing Chronicle's acclaimed series of artist books for kids, Wideness and Wonder is the fascinating story of the mysterious and beloved artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Well-known children's biography writer Susan Goldman Rubin traces the events that shaped O'Keeffe's art and how art influenced OKeeffe's life in return. Wideness and Wonder is colorful, accessible, and packed with the art that made O'Keeffe so renowned.

Genres: Biography, Art, Nonfiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

124 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2010

About the author

Susan Goldman Rubin is the author of more than forty-five books for young people, including Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter; The Yellow House: Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin Side by Side; and Edward Hopper: Painter of Light and Shadow. A long-time instructor in the UCLA Extension Writers Program, Susan Goldman Rubin lives in Malibu, California.

Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction. Grade 4 and up. Great introduction to a master painter. As a children's book, the text rightfully concentrates on the early years leading up to her relationship with Steiglizt. Insightfully chosen anecdotes based on past interviews with O'Keeffe and others give insights into her early talent and ambition. The parallel between her career and the suffragist movement is highlighted without distracting from the story of O'Keeffe's artistic development. Beautiful prints of her work, including work from her childhood.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love kids books when I get just the right amount of information. It was wonderful to learn about OKeefe as an artist and woman. Her adopted love for the west. I appreciate her wandering hikes and picking up bits of nature to inspire. She pieced together her art education.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heartily recommend this quiet, chronological bio to anyone who just needs to slow down and take a deep breath. The austere tone of the prose, which occasionally sounds young, actually complements the soothing artwork, displayed in full color throughout. The design is outstanding, each page that faces a piece of O'Keeffe's art is shaded in the most prominent color from the painting with complementary-colored text. This sounds like it might look busy, but the effect is the opposite. The soft washes are calming and meditative, the pages rich and heavy. A lovely work to hold, touch and look at.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colors in this beautifully designed biography are perfect for the subject. The inclusion of so many of O'Keeke's paintings aid the reader in getting to know the artist.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to see the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit at the IMA .and wanted just a little biographical information..and that's what is so nice about kids books...interesting and understandable...

[Christine Turner]

Too long to share, but includes an image of the Radiator Building - Night, New York (1927).

https://www.okeeffemuseum.org/store/p...

Continuing Chronicle's acclaimed series of artist books for kids,Wideness and Wonder is the fascinating story of the mysterious and beloved artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Well-known children's biography writer Susan Goldman Rubin traces the events that shaped O'Keeffe's art and how art influenced OKeeffe's life in return.Wideness and Wonder is colorful, accessible, and packed with the art that made O'Keeffe so renowned.

[Kifflie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid biography of Georgia O'Keeffe for younger readers. She certainly had an interesting life, moving around the country and continuing to stretch herself artistically for her entire career. I did not know about her relationship with Stieglitz; it was fascinating how the two of them overcame personality and age differences and managed to stay together until his death.

This includes plenty of reproductions of Georgia's art and photographs by Stieglitz.

[Al Gritten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another good overview of her life, but this one doesn't have the nice color plates that the last book did. It is fairly comprehensive in exploring who she was and has some nice pics, just not quite as good as the last book on her that I read.

[Laura Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the artwork selected to display alongside the story of her life. It's a glimpse of what she painted when events were playing out. I also didn't know much of Georgia's story before. This was an enjoyable book.

[Ash Friend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introduction to O'Keefe's life and work for ages 10-12. The photos of her life and artworks are excellent.

[Laura Paulisich · Rating 5 out of 5]

L❤️VE this book❣️L❤️VE this author❣️Fast, informative, fun, inspiring!!! #thankyousomuch @susangoldmanrubin

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short book about Georgia's life with lovely prints of her paintings.

[Rudy Seifert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Y A basic biography, with many good reproductions of earlier and milder works.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT!!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

921

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

After visiting the museum named after her in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Georgia O'Keefe, one the masters of modern art, is described in this wonderful biography by Susan Goldman Rubin. I felt I needed to know more about her, so I purchased this book and found the life story of this amazing woman and artist. The early 20th century was a time when women were directed to be art instructors in high schools and colleges, Georgia O'Keefe did what only a few women dared to do, and that was to become an artist. One that was accepted by the art world, respected by her piers, and who could actually make a living with her art. One of my favorite artists, O'Keefe is shown to be a woman of daring, breaking new ground painting in abstract realism. O'Keefe said, "Paint what's in your head, what you are acquainted with, even if you think it doesn't count." Her remarkable insight as to shape and color, made her the master of works like her giant paintings of flowers and her Southwest United States images are all so well known. O'Keefe was the first woman to solo at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She had a famous relationship with photographer Alfred Stieglitz, and her life in New Mexico and the paintings produced are all described in this wonderful book.

A great read for anyone interested in Georgia O'Keefe. It may be more focused to young adults. but no matter what, it is a wonderful book for anyone interested in knowing this American artist better.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I'm a late Georgia O'Keeffe convert. I knew about her art of course, but had never really studied it until I decided to do a presentation on her for Kids Cafe. I found her art and life fascinating once I started researching her, so I decided I wanted more information and got this book for that purpose. I liked that she decided early to become an artist, but changed her mind based on personal illnesses, but then decided she wanted to do it full-time. And this was a time when very few women had a career, and even fewer were unmarried. Though she did eventually marry Alfred Stieglitz and he helped publicize her name, I like that she didn't let him hold her back and started painting more and more original works like her famous flower painting, and the abstracted desert landscapes with animal skulls. I no longer believe her works are hyper-sexualized like some people believe because they look like women's genitalia, but yes they were rather sensual. For a woman who was competing with dozens, if not hundreds of men that were artists during the same time period, she did really well for herself and was famous during her own lifetime. I really enjoyed this book and would love to add it to my personal collection. Highly recommended for ages 9-12, 5 stars.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rubin uses 17 chapters to cover the life and times of this incredible, ground-breaking artist. Because so many of the quotations used in this biography for middle grade and teen readers come from Georgia herself, the book has an immediacy about it, as though readers are peeking right over the artist's shoulders. The breathless wonder with which she beheld her beloved Arizona landscapes and the artistic possibilities she saw in everything around her are described vividly. Rubin doesn't avoid some of the more controversial aspects of her subject and describes frankly her relationship with much-older husband Alfred Stieglitz and her own outspoken nature. There are more than 46 photographs or samples of O'Keeffe's art supplementing the engaging text. This book will surely prompt curious readers to learn more about a woman who found inspiration both in flowers and in skulls.

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this non-fiction young adult book for my Young Adult Literature class. I had signed up for the non-fiction genre presentation and needed a book. Georgia O'Keefe is one of my favorite artists but this book was not too exciting.

Susan Goldman Rubin has written several such books and I think she has the facts down and some great pictures of O'Keefe's works but the book lacks interesting elements. Georgia O'Keefe was an interesting person but this book reads more like a text book.

I could find nothing about Susan Goldman Rubin on the net so I wonder if she just spits these kind of books out for school libraries to make a little money?

Language: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none
Sex: none
Violence: none

[Kris Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a 127 page wikipedia article. The first forty years of her life she zips between Wisconsin, NYC, South Carolina, and Texas at a dizzying pace, and you gain little sense of her personality with the exception that she can be prickly. Two complaints to the book's publisher, Chronicle, who typically shines in book design. Why on the cover feature of photo of Georgia on the back of a dude's motorcycle when she was a clearly a loner? Plus, metaphorically speaking, she was part of the feminist movement of the 20s and 30s. And why such a small trim size? I had a hard time visually focusing on the white typeface on the small colored pages, and the photographs of her work really needed to be larger scale to better appreciate. I look forward to checking out her new exhibit at IMA.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expect informational literature intended for young audiences to move me to look deeper into a particular subject. I enjoyed the feel and texture of the pages and the inclusion of not only O'Keefe's images, but also Steiglitz's photos of her. However the writing felt condescending, and the colored pages and fonts were often difficult to read. Georgia O'Keefe is one of my favorite artists however, Rubin's book did not drive me or motivate me to look deeper into O'Keefe's life.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography captures the colors and feelings of artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s life and career. The text in either black or white on solid bright colored backgrounds provides a beautiful complement to the reproductions of O’Keeffe’s art on opposite, white, pages. Rubin writes in clear prose about O’Keeffe’s life, from childhood through early artistic efforts and teaching jobs, meeting Alfred Stieglitz and gaining success as an artist. I really liked it!

[Krista]

This visually stunning biography of Georgia O'Keeffe was a pleasure to read. It gave a glimpse of the woman behind the art, and introduced me to some of the artist's work. After reading, I very much want to visit Ghost Ranch and learn more about O'Keeffe's life and work.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this concise biography of O'Keeffe's entire life. It wasn't unwieldy in length and contained primary sources. It gave me a good background to enhance my enjoyment of an upcoming art exhibit of her New Mexico works.
Could easily be read by an older student.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is beautiful, each page is thick, glossy and colorful and the reproductions of Georgia's art are lovely. I know the book is meant for children but I was looking for a simple but accurate version of Georgia's life after reading the fictional Georgia by Dawn Tripp. Very well done!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great distillation of Georgia O'Keefe's art development and life progression with vivid color and her spirit infused in the narrative. Good use of images of her artwork and photographs of her throughout.

[Sarah Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful introduction to the life and art of Georgia O'Keeffe. The book itself is a remarkable piece of art with beautifully designed pages, well placed photos and, and an incredible sense of place. I would highly recommend this for middle grade readers and young artists. Lovely.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the life and art of Georgie O'keefe. Teachers add this to your lists of books or references for upper middle grade/ya. Layout of the book is gorgeous too.

[Stacy Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography was engaging and concise. The pages were filled with her work and others work related to her. A solid biography. Includes index, image credits and bibliography.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

O'Keefe lived an amazing life.