This book describes the life of Ben Shahn and his struggles through life and his desire to create art that reflects injustices and other important topics. This book would serve a s great introduction to the injustices that many people face or have faced. We see Ben Shahn and his Jewish family attacked in their home country and then immigrate to the US where they still face challenges. This book would be best utilized in younger grades to introduce hard topics in a way that provides hope. It has an Author's note that talks about his life and says that he was so involved that you could track history through looking at his paintings. A great book for anyone who wants to hear a story of success despite the seemingly neverending struggles

2022 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award

This nonfiction book is wonderful. I am sad to admit that I didn't know the details of Ben Shahn's life and his work, however, the text and illustrations do a wonderful job informing the reader. There is a lot to digest but it in engrossing. As the illustrator's note suggests, Ben Shahn's influence is noteworthy and I enjoyed Evan Turk explanation of his technique to pay tribute to one of his favorite artists.

Illustrated in a style paying homage to Ben Shahn, this biography of the Lithuanian-born, American artist tells the story of a determined man who experienced and observed oppression and pain, and used his art as a way to help people in their search for justice and peace. (Sydney Taylor Notable Picture Book) ( )

Art and protest meld perfectly in the life of a 20th-century artist.

Born into a family of Jewish artisans in early-20th-century Lithuania, Ben Shahn wanted to draw, but there was no money for paper. Instead, he sketched in the margins of his book of Bible stories. After his father, a labor activist, was exiled to Siberia, the family eventually made their way to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Shahn was teased in school because of his accent but won the bullies over with his drawings. His teachers encouraged his talent. Having to quit school to work, Shahn was able to apprentice to a lithographer and attend art school. There, his teachers told him that “pictures should be beautiful—not real life.” Shahn thought otherwise. He went on to paint 23 pictures of the Sacco-Vanzetti trial and worked for the FDR administration photographing the American “outsiders” who needed relief and painting murals for a new village for garment workers. Despite threats from the FBI during the McCarthy era, Shahn continued to paint protesters and peace lovers. Levinson’s strong narrative is supported by emotive, brilliantly vibrant paintings in gouache, acrylic, pencil, chalk, and linoleum block prints. One triptych offers powerful images of the Shahns immigrating to NYC; it’s followed by scenes of the neighborhood with its jumble of new streets and foods. Well-researched and -sourced, this is a valuable addition to the canon of artist biographies. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.4% of actual size.)

This life of an artist with a social conscience makes itself heard. (Yiddish glossary, author's note, illustrator's note, timeline, select bibliography, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)

-Kirkus Review