When I was a little girl in the 1950s, Mom would bring home a Little Golden Book from her grocery store trips. Before I could read, I spent hours with these books. The book illustrations were my introduction to the visual arts. I had my favorite artists even then. And I am very excited to have the chance to preview this new volume on the art of Alice and Martin Provensen. I remember their Golden Book illustrations from such classics as A Child’s Garden of Verses, The Animal Fair, and The Color Kittens. I had the Fireside Book of Folk Songs once, too.

Because my vast childhood collection of children’s books disappeared when I went to college, I created a new collection of vintage Golden Books to share with our son, including The Little Fat Policeman. I never forgot the story of the woman who was driving too fast because of the music she was listening to in her car!

The Art of Alice and Martin Provenson is a marvelous retrospective that includes their art from the 1949 The Fireside Cookbook to Alice’s 2005 Klondike Gold. Also included is a Conversation with Karen Provensen Mitchell, the artists’ daughter, with memories of her idyllic childhood growing up on Maple Hill Farm and insights into her parents’ personalities, marriage, and work.

There a pages of photographs of the artists at home on Maple Hill Farm, at work in their studio, and traveling abroad. I loved seeing their sketchbooks from their European vacation. “We never used a camera to record our impressions but have carried our sketchbooks around the world,” their are quoted as saying. Another interesting section includes Martin’s paintings in the style of his favorite artists, including Corot, Picasso, Braque, and Modigliani.

The Provensens won the Caldicott Award and their acceptance speech is included, as well as an address to the American Library Association.

Leonard S. Marcus contributes an essay, Two Artists, One Art. About their 1951 A Child’s Garden of Verses, he notes the book already had been illustrated with such notables as Tasha Tudor and Jessie Willcox Smith and they needed to “put their own stamp” on it. They did a marvelous job!

Robert Gottlieb offers A Very Personal Memory of Alice and Martin, having spent many Christmases at the farm.

It’s a beautiful volume.

I received access to a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased. ( )