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Robert McCloskey: A Private Life in Words and Pictures
Robert McCloskey was author of such famous children's books as Make Way for Ducklings, One Morning in Maine, and Time of Wonder, but little is known of his life. This memoir by his daughter Jane reveals the reclusive artist that few really knew, including his Midwestern upbringing, the pivotal event in Mexico that shaped his life, and the family's years on their island in Maine. Including never-before-seen artwork from the family archives.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 2, 2013
It is possible to live an interesting life, among interesting people, and then write about it uninterestingly.
July 3, 2022
The artwork is beautiful and I enjoyed the parts about growing up in Maine, but as others have noted there are weird parts that seem to be more about his daughter, Jane, the author. She writes about UFOs and spies and environmental worries. Just odd. And her writing style is very clipped and factual. Also, maybe it's just me, but how in the world does someone remember the level of detail she recounts from childhood?
August 10, 2011
I was terribly disappointed by this book, one which I'd been awaiting breathlessly for several months.
The illustrations are wonderful, even though there are a lot that are from the books McCloskey published during his lifetime. I would have preferred to see way more of the unpublished drawings and paintings that are referred to in the text. But oh, how lovely to see the ones included here.
Five stars for the illustrations. Make no mistake about how wonderful they are.
The text was not what I was expecting. Not at all. First, this book is Jane McCloskey's memoir, NOT a biography of her father. I came away knowing very little new information about Mr. McCloskey and far more than I ever wished to know about the life of his daughter, what she thinks about UFOs, her school experience in Mexico and how her first period was humiliating.
The prose is dreadful, very nearly unreadable. Banal, clunky and painful to read.
The illustrations are wonderful, even though there are a lot that are from the books McCloskey published during his lifetime. I would have preferred to see way more of the unpublished drawings and paintings that are referred to in the text. But oh, how lovely to see the ones included here.
Five stars for the illustrations. Make no mistake about how wonderful they are.
The text was not what I was expecting. Not at all. First, this book is Jane McCloskey's memoir, NOT a biography of her father. I came away knowing very little new information about Mr. McCloskey and far more than I ever wished to know about the life of his daughter, what she thinks about UFOs, her school experience in Mexico and how her first period was humiliating.
The prose is dreadful, very nearly unreadable. Banal, clunky and painful to read.
November 25, 2018
By all means, if you are interested in seeing a few of McCloskey's works, pick this up. But if you're looking for a biography of ROBERT McCloskey, you won't find it here. This is more of a memoir of JANE McCloskey with some odd little bits about aliens and spying thrown in. So odd. So poorly written. Imagine your elderly aunt who has never written anything in her life decides to write her version of the family story... that's what the writing is like.
July 19, 2021
Three stars because of the lovely art. Also the childhood in Maine stuff was very appealing. But as others have pointed out, this is not really a biography of Bob McCloskey but rather a memoir of his daughter, the author. And some stuff at the end gets weird. The bit about spies was only tangentially connected to McCloskey and seems to have been more of an interest of his daughter and there is not even an attempt to tie the chapter on UFOs to Bob. That was just odd.
August 30, 2019
Reading this felt like eavesdropping on someone’s dinner conversation. Intriguing at times, but very different from the biography I expected. The images were a definite bonus.
April 28, 2022
921
1 3/4*
1 3/4*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2012
The art in this book is incredible, since it includes extraordinary paintings and sketches that McCloskey did when not illustrating children's books. They are hauntingly gorgeous. I'd frame any one of them if I could find them in print.
The book itself is NOT about McCloskey per se but rather about his strange, insecure younger daughter Jane who seems to need to tell her own story, but probably realized no one would care enough unless she filtered it through the lens of her famous father's life. Honestly I wouldn't bother reading this book, although there are a few interesting tidbits about little Sal, her mother, and Jane, and their experiences growing up in Maine--Margaret McCloskey was a librarian, and HER mother was Ruth Sawyer of Roller Skates fame, what a great thing to discover. But it is fun to hear the story behind those two sweet little girls and the wonderful clear, soft, cozy drawings of a happy Maine childhood. And it is nice to see again the friendly familiar faces of Homer Price and Henry Reed, who look so much like McCloskey himself. Note a strange comment towards the end that says that McCloskey came up with the idea for a story akin to Harold and the Purple Crayon years before Crockett Johnson published it, with a character called Skribiller. They must have communicated via ESP, Jane says. She seems to need to brag about her mother's Mediterranean cooking style which is so in vogue now (as if they thought of it first). And what are we to think about her UFO experiences? Who cares?
The title may mislead, but be sure at least to skim through for the art.
The book itself is NOT about McCloskey per se but rather about his strange, insecure younger daughter Jane who seems to need to tell her own story, but probably realized no one would care enough unless she filtered it through the lens of her famous father's life. Honestly I wouldn't bother reading this book, although there are a few interesting tidbits about little Sal, her mother, and Jane, and their experiences growing up in Maine--Margaret McCloskey was a librarian, and HER mother was Ruth Sawyer of Roller Skates fame, what a great thing to discover. But it is fun to hear the story behind those two sweet little girls and the wonderful clear, soft, cozy drawings of a happy Maine childhood. And it is nice to see again the friendly familiar faces of Homer Price and Henry Reed, who look so much like McCloskey himself. Note a strange comment towards the end that says that McCloskey came up with the idea for a story akin to Harold and the Purple Crayon years before Crockett Johnson published it, with a character called Skribiller. They must have communicated via ESP, Jane says. She seems to need to brag about her mother's Mediterranean cooking style which is so in vogue now (as if they thought of it first). And what are we to think about her UFO experiences? Who cares?
The title may mislead, but be sure at least to skim through for the art.
January 5, 2014
While I was in Maine and in his stomping grounds, I read this biography of one of my favorite children’s book authors, Robert McCloskey. He wrote,Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, Homer Price, Lentil, Centerburg Tales, One Morning in Maine, Bert Dow, and my personal favorite, Time of Wonder. (I poured over Time of Wonder as a child, never dreaming I’d grow up to know that landscape well.)
This book chronicles the author’s family– written by his daughter, Sal’s sister– and I especially liked the bits set in Maine when his children were small. Here are some interesting quotes from the book:
• “Most days we studied for a couple hours in the morning and then we were free for the rest of the day. From Labor Day until the middle of October, when we left for New York, we managed to cover the school lessons for our classes through January.”
• “I kept an open mind about God. If I was going to pray to a God when I was scared, I needed to be respectful of a God when I wasn’t.”
• “I loved the beautiful land and water and my friends in Maine. I was happy. But I was becoming aware that Maine, as I knew it, was not the real world.”
And the last line from the book Time of Wonder bears repeating: “A little bit sad about the place you are leaving, a little bit glad about the place where you are going. It is a time of quiet wonder – wondering for instance: Where do hummingbirds go in a hurricane?”
I give this book 4 stars; check it out if you are a fan of his work.
This book chronicles the author’s family– written by his daughter, Sal’s sister– and I especially liked the bits set in Maine when his children were small. Here are some interesting quotes from the book:
• “Most days we studied for a couple hours in the morning and then we were free for the rest of the day. From Labor Day until the middle of October, when we left for New York, we managed to cover the school lessons for our classes through January.”
• “I kept an open mind about God. If I was going to pray to a God when I was scared, I needed to be respectful of a God when I wasn’t.”
• “I loved the beautiful land and water and my friends in Maine. I was happy. But I was becoming aware that Maine, as I knew it, was not the real world.”
And the last line from the book Time of Wonder bears repeating: “A little bit sad about the place you are leaving, a little bit glad about the place where you are going. It is a time of quiet wonder – wondering for instance: Where do hummingbirds go in a hurricane?”
I give this book 4 stars; check it out if you are a fan of his work.
October 10, 2013
I found this book while looking for some local history books during a recent to Maine. Although the title suggests that this is a biography of the author of much loved children's books, including MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS and BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL, it is actually more a memoir of his daughter. Nonetheless, I found the book interesting, offering insights into life on an island in Maine, experiences in a Mexican art colony, and short sojourns to Europe. Among other things, it reveals that the life of an author of gentle and uplifting children's books can also have difficult personal life experiences, in this case a nervous breakdown. Probably the most valuable part of the book are the reproductions of McCloskey's art, much of which has never been seen before outside the family.
April 22, 2012
This could have been a good book if it actually were a biography of Robert McCloskey as it is purported to be. Unfortunately it is really an autobiography of daughter (and author) Jane's life and she didn't come across as the most likeable person. Her facts and insight into her father's life and work were disappointingly limited; his wonderful illustrations weren't even captioned. Even if he was an extremely private person, she could have made more effort.
March 7, 2013
I enjoyed reading this interesting, relaxing memoir , mostly. I think the title should have been the author's name rather than her famous father as it is much more about her life than his. I love many of the books Robert Mccloskey wrote/illustrated so I enjoyed learning more about how the family lived. Since I have seen the ducks in Boston, it was fun to learn a little more about their history. I enjoyed the artwork in the book.
September 28, 2011
Very disappointing. Few new works by Robert McCloskey, and very small reporductions. The text is poor sylistically, and I found at least 4 typos in the first two chapters. Did gain a few insights on the artist, but more on his daughter, the author. I did not think this would be as autobiographical as it turned out to be. Glad I did not buy it!
July 20, 2014
As others have noted this is not so much a biography of McCloskey as it is a memoir of the younger daughter of her life and of her relationship with her family especially that with her father. Much art from his ooks and other art previously unknown to those of us who know and love him through those books. So glad to have happend upon this lovely book.
ely book.
ely book.
March 4, 2015
I enjoyed the illustrations, mostly by the author's father, but I found the writing too be of very disappointing quality. In addition, the book dealt much more with the author's life than that of her father.
Want to read
May 22, 2011Read an excerpt in Down East magazine. Can't wait to read this book!
September 1, 2011
Love his art, interested to know about him. . .
September 9, 2011
This was a really nice read! Loved the author's writing style...loved the insight into life with the man who wrote some of my favorite children's books....
December 21, 2012
This is a cool book. It is memoir more than biography, the illustrations are beautiful, and Jane McCloskey's life is interesting.
May 29, 2012
Same thoughts as other reviewers. More an auto biography than bio.
August 4, 2013
Reading about people's lives always draws me in. In this case the McCloskey family drew me in in this lovely illustrated, oversized book. I enjoyed it very much.
July 29, 2014
A lovely, honest remembrance of a time and place. Delicately sketches an unusual upbringing.
Read
September 1, 2017Yes, the illustrations were wonderful to see. Yes, I enjoyed imagining what it was like to live on an island in Penobscot Bay during the 1950s and 60s. Yes, it was much more a memoir about Jane's life, rather than a biography of her father's life.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews