As in the previous biographies in this series, the text is presented as a school report, which includes a concession that Kahlo's work (reproduced throughout) may be beyond a child's powers of interpretation. Frith has wisely emphasized aspects of Kahlo's life that will resonate with the book's intended audience. DePaola supplies additional illustrations of Kahlo, complemented with festive, Mexican-flavored borders and motifs.

The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is a surprisingly popular subject for young people. This engaging essay is written as if it were a school report by a girl named Frieda and illustrated not only with reproductions of Kahlo's own paintings but with scenes from her life imagined by the inimitable dePaola. He uses borders and backgrounds in Kahlo's colors to intensify the text to good effect. Kahlo's poor health, her self-absorption, her marriage to the muralist Diego Rivera are all reported as a child might actually research them, and the student's voice is sharp and clear. Frith's straightforward presentation of Kahlo's passionate and unusual way of seeing the whole world in her self-portraits is commendable. If only some sort of bibliography or notes were included to aid Frieda's fellow researchers. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)

Gr 3-5-This picture-book biography is a good way to introduce youngsters to this avant-garde Mexican painter. Told from the viewpoint of a girl who is doing a report on the famous artist, Kahlo's story is clear, concise, and accessible. All of the basic facts are here, along with many personal details that enliven the narrative. Frith does a particularly good job of explaining artistic terms within the text, and she also focuses on qualities that make Kahlo's work unique. The book concludes with three questions that the student would ask the artist if she could-a great technique for prompting children to do more research on this fascinating painter. The well-written prose is beautifully complemented both by photos of Kahlo and of some of her best-known paintings and by dePaola's splendid trademark illustrations, all set against vividly colored backgrounds. Many of the colors used are those found in Kahlo's own works. The tone of dePaola's paintings varies from humorous to realistic, showcasing his ability to reveal both the light and more serious sides of his subject. His use of color and patterned "frames" gives each illustration a vivacity that underscores Kahlo's own zest for life. Written for a slightly older audience than Jonah Winter's Frida (Scholastic, 2002), this is a fine choice for all libraries.-Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.