Famous for her elegantly written and whimsically illustrated children's
books Millions of Cats, The Funny Thing, Snippy and Snappy, and Tales
from Grimm, Wanda Gág (1893-1946) lived a life not unlike that of the
characters in the German fairy tales that her grandparents told her as a
girl.
In a new biography for young readers, award-winning author Gwenyth Swain
brings the visionary and eccentric artist to life. Swain takes readers
into Wanda's girlhood in rural Minnesota, where, from an early age, her
artistic talents flourished. Yet Wanda, the eldest of seven siblings,
was pushed abruptly into adulthood when her father's untimely death left
her in charge of the household. After years of struggle, Wanda Gág was
finally able to go to New York to pursue her passion. Her art was
eventually featured at top galleries and her books, influenced by her
love of nature and animals, became wildly popular among children and
critics across the United States.
Complemented by Wanda's illustrations, letters, and diary entries, Wanda
Gág: Storybook Artist illuminates for young readers the amazing life of
a charismatic artist who triumphed over adversity to realize her dreams.