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The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs
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About The Bluest Of Blues: Anna Atkins And The First Book
Product Description An ALSC Notable Children's Book A Junior Library Guild Selection A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year A gorgeous picture book biography of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins--the first person to ever publish a book of photography After losing her mother very early in life, Anna Atkins (1799–1871) was raised by her loving father. He gave her a scientific education, which was highly unusual for women and girls in the early 19th century. Fascinated with the plant life around her, Anna became a botanist. She recorded all her findings in detailed illustrations and engravings, until the invention of cyanotype photography in 1842. Anna used this new technology in order to catalogue plant specimens—a true marriage of science and art. In 1843, Anna published the book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions with handwritten text and cyanotype photographs. It is considered the first book of photographs ever published. Weaving together histories of women, science, and art, The Bluest of Blues will inspire young readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery and creativity. From School Library Journal Gr 2-5-Raised by her scientist father, young Anna Atkins was introduced to a number of scientific ideas and methods and was encouraged to pursue her passions and education. Atkins became an avid collector of specimens from the natural world, shells and ferns and flowers among them, and learned to illustrate them with remarkable accuracy. When she was introduced to the new science of photography and cyanotypes (aka sun prints), Atkins's inspiration reached a peak and she began to catalog and photograph her enormous collection. Robinson's picture book biography is a loving tribute to this remarkable woman whose impressive contributions were recognized long after her passing. Openly acknowledging in the author's note that Atkins's childhood was lost to history, the author fills in the gaps with imagined scenes of her youth-somewhat of a misstep in an otherwise winsome work. Robinson's writing has an ethereal quality to it. The beautiful blues of the pencil drawings, watercolor washes, and original cyanotypes from Atkins's collection come together on each page as an immersive experience, creating an array of blue that limns Atkins's world. VERDICT A pleasing addition to most collections. Have readers enjoy independently or perhaps with sun print paper so that they can try their hand at cyanotype making.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review "An inventive look at a pioneering woman whose intellectual passions culminated in published works of beauty and scientific verisimilitude."―Kirkus Reviews "Detailed and informative . . . A valuable biography of an early female scientist—and a rare portrait of a father-daughter collaboration."―Publishers Weekly "Robinson’s picture book biography is a loving tribute to this remarkable woman whose impressive contributions were recognized long after her passing . . . Robinson’s writing has an ethereal quality to it. The beautiful blues of the pencil drawings, watercolor washes, and original cyanotypes from Atkins’s collection come together on each page as an immersive experience, creating an array of blue that limns Atkins’s world."―School Library Journal "[A] beautifully illustrated biography of Anna Atkins, a nineteenthcentury botanist, artist, and early adopter of this photographic technique."―Booklist "The beautiful blue toned illustrations of this book give it a dream-like quality . . . This book will serve as a great introduction to another wonderful woman in the science field."―School Library Connection “The Bluest of Blues represents a win for spotlighting the significant historical contributions of a uniquely talented woman who was gifted with an imagination in tune to both the expression of artistic sensibilit
