Yayoi's mother wants her to be a traditional lady but she dreams of making fantastic art -- and then she makes that dream come true!

This was a very interesting and informative read about this artist's life and work. While it is in an early reader format, it is one of those early readers with short chapters that really serve to bridge between those more basic books into longer chapter books. It contains a great deal of information covering all the details of Kusama's early life and upbringing to her years as an artist.

This book also does not shy away from difficult topics, including male artists taking more than inspiration from her work without crediting her, Kusama not being invited to top artistic gatherings, and her struggles with mental illness. The latter is addressed somewhat vaguely; as an adult, I knew exactly what was meant when the text said Kusama and her doctors decided it was best for her to live in a hospital permanently (especially after earlier pages made reference to her hallucinations), but younger readers might not quite understand. Still, I think that is is important to see this representation in children's literature.

Colorful illustrations help to tell Kusama's tale. Backmatter includes mini biographies of other famous female artists (although the selection seems a bit random), more information and prompts about art styles, tidbits about Japan and its culture, and some questions to test readers' knowledge.

This book seems like a great addition for any public library, art classroom, or personal libraries of families that enjoy the artistic world or learning about different kinds of people. ( )