It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way - by Kyo Maclear (Hardcover)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>"Gyo Fujikawa's iconic children's books are beloved all over the world. Now it's time for Gyo's story to be told--a story of artistic talent that refused to be constrained by rules or expectations. Growing up quiet and lonely at the beginning of the twentieth century, Gyo learned from her relatives the ways in which both women and Japanese people lacked opportunity. Her teachers and family believed in her and sent her to art school and later Japan, where her talent flourished. But while Gyo's career grew and led her to work for Walt Disney Studios, World War II began, and with it, her family's internment. But Gyo never stopped fighting--for herself, her vision, her family and her readers--and later wrote and illustrated the first children's book to feature children of different races interacting together."--<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p><strong>* 4 Starred Reviews *</strong></p><p><strong>* An Indie Next List Pick *</strong></p><p><strong>"Playful, bold, and, much like its subject, full of grace." --Jillian Tamaki, </strong><strong>Caldecott Honor winner for <em>This One Summer</em></strong> </p><p><strong><em>"It Began with a Page </em>tells [Gyo Fujikawa's] story beautifully, in picture-book form." <em>--</em><em>The New Yorker</em></strong></p><p>From beloved team Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad (creators of <em>Julia, Child</em> and <em>Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli</em>) comes an elegant picture book biography that portrays the most moving moments in the life of Gyo Fujikawa, a groundbreaking Japanese American hero in the fight for racial diversity in picture books.</p><p>Equal parts picture book biography, inspiring story, and a look at racial diversity in America, <em>It Began with a Page </em>is a gem for any book lover, librarian, or child who dares to dream big.</p><p>Growing up in California, Gyo Fujikawa always knew that she wanted to be an artist. She was raised among strong women, including her mother and teachers, who encouraged her to fight for what she believed in. During World War II, Gyo's family was forced to abandon everything and was taken to an internment camp in Arkansas.</p><p>Far away from home, Gyo worked as an illustrator in New York while her innocent family was imprisoned. Seeing the diversity around her and feeling pangs from her own childhood, Gyo became determined to show all types of children in the pages of her books. There had to be a world where they saw themselves represented. </p><p>Gyo's book <em>Babies</em> was initially rejected by her publisher, but after she insisted, they finally relented, and <em>Babies</em> went on to sell almost two million copies. Gyo's books paved the way for publishers, teachers, and readers to see what we can be when we welcome others into our world.</p><p>The book includes extensive backmatter, including a note from the creators, a timeline, archival photos, and further information on Gyo Fujikawa.</p><p>A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2019</p><p>A Kirkus Best of 2019 Picture Book</p><p>A 2020 ALSC Notable Children's Book</p><p>A 2020 Orbis Pictus Recommended Title awarded annually by NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)</p><p>Featured in the 2019 Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators</p><p/><br></br><p><b> From the Back Cover </b></p></br></br><p><strong>From the time she was a little girl, Gyo Fujikawa drew pictures.</strong></p><p>Gyo's parents had come to California from Japan looking for a better life, but sometimes Gyo felt invisible. When high school came, Gyo's teachers recognized her gift for creating beautiful art and got behind her. Art became her profession, and now her drawings were in magazines and store window displays.</p><p>Eventually, Gyo was asked to illustrate picture books for children. She envisioned a diverse cast of characters, explaining that she wanted "an international set of babies, little black babies, Asian babies, all kinds of babies" in the pages of her books.</p><p>Had it ever been done before? </p><p>Not yet. </p><p>Her <em>Babies</em>, published in 1963, welcomed children of all colors into the pages of a picture book for the first time, paving the way for publishers, teachers, readers, and future writers to imagine a more inclusive world.</p><p>From the beloved team of Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad comes a story that poignantly portrays the life of Gyo Fujikawa, a groundbreaking hero in the fight for racial diversity in picture books.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>"Often mimicking Fujikawa's style, Morstad layers engaging details and deep emotional resonance onto Maclear's spare, poetic text...A splendid picture-book celebration of an artist and activist."--<em>Kirkus Reviews </em><strong>(starred review)</strong><br><br>"Spare, elegant spreads and graceful prose...Maclear and Morstad's biography conveys with quiet power how recently segregation reached into every aspect of American life, and how one woman did her part to defeat it."--<em>Publishers Weekly</em> <strong>(starred review)</strong><br><br>"Written and illustrated with clean, spare lines, the book reveals emotions in an understated manner...This beautiful biography offers a fitting tribute to an artist with a lasting legacy in American picture books."--<em>Booklist </em><strong>(starred review)</strong><br><br>"<em>It Began with a Page</em>... tells [Gyo Fujikawa's] story beautifully, in picture-book form."--<em>The New Yorker</em><br><br>"In spare lyrical text, Kyo Maclear tells the story of Japanese-American children's author and illustrator Gyo Fujikawa...Julie Morstad's illustrations are a confident mix of color and black-and-white images in dynamic compositions...Her sweet and stylish babies on the final pages capture the spirit of Gyo's originals."--<em>New York Times Book Review</em><br><br>"Many illustrations recall the elegance and simplicity of Fujikawa's own work... This exemplary biography of a pioneer in multicultural children's books deserves a place in most collections."--School Library Journal <strong>(starred review)</strong><br><br>"Julie Morstad has so effortlessly captured the essence of Gyo Fujikawa's art with a fresh and contemporary twist."--Salina Yoon, creator of the <em>Penguin</em> picture book series<br><br>"A breathtakingly beautiful tribute to a woman who deserves much wider recognition. Morstad is the perfect interpreter for both Fujikawa's life and art-both share a profound sensitivity to the inner lives of children. <em>It Began with a Page</em> is playful, bold and, much like its subject, full of grace."--Jillian Tamaki, Caldecott Honor winner for <em>This One Summer</em><br>
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