Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Rodriguez

Rodriguez, Rachel. (2006). Through Georgia’s Eyes. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Grade Level:
I would reccommed this book for students in grades K-3.

Author Credibility:
Rachel Rodriguez tells the reader in the author’s note that she read all she could about Georgia O’Keeffe’s life. The author also includes a bibliography. This is a Children’s Choice book for 2006.

Summary:
Georgia was born in Wisconsin in 1887. She roams the prairie carrying a sketch pad. She takes painting lessons, and wants to become an artist. But, artists during this time were only boys. She paints for hours and hours. Nature speaks to her. Painting helps her express herself. She moves to New Mexico were she paints things such as bones. Everything in nature is beautiful to her. She paints trees and hills, canyons, a line of cows, and a range of hills like elephants. You can see the world through Georgia’s eyes in her paintings. She paved the way for women painters.

Standards:
Social Studies:
Time, Continuity, and Change
Individual Development and Identity

Illustrations:
The illustrations were done by cut-paper collages. They are inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings.

Access Features:
*Author’s Note
*Illlustrator’s Note
*Biblography
*More About Georgia O’Keeffe

How I would use the book in the classroom:
This would be great when discussing nature, how to express yourself, art, women and how things have changed for them, and metaphors.

My response to the book:
I enjoyed reading this book. I was not familiar with Georgia O’Keeffe’s work before this book. I loved the illustrations in this book. That was my favorite part.

Related Texts:
*Georgia’s Bones by Jen Bryant
*My Name is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter by Jeanette Winter

Other:
This book is a picture book. The author uses a lot of descriptive language. Metaphors are used throughout the book. The end pages are green, which for me represents Georgia’s connection to nature.