Customer Reviews

Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudi

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This luscious book results from a perfect partnership of skills: the lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations are irresistible. The use of present tense brings the reader an immediacy and familiarity to the subject. The story begins, "In a small village in Spain lives a boy named Antoni Gaudi." Gaudi is a sickly child who "can't always run and play with his sister and brother" so he "has time to notice. With wide eyes, he observes the world. All around him is light, form, and the Great Book of Nature. He will read from it all his life." This brief picture book biography introduces an introspective boy who becomes a uniquely creative architect; many of his creations are "UNESCO World Heritage sites". Paschkis' gouache illustrations are wonderfully colorful and beautifully expressive reflections of Gaudi's artistic accomplishments. An author's note provides additional interesting details about this remarkable person, and lists some web sites and a select bibliography. Every library will want to own a copy of this lovely book.

Like most art students and lovers, I have had mixed feelings about the architecture of Gaudi all my life. When our oldest son visited Barcelona and sent pictures of Gaudi buildings, I planned on learning more about him. Now I find this new and remarkable picture book telling children about a man who was perhaps little understood during his lifetime.

What I find in the warmly-illustrated pages is a likeable man! A devout Catholic, a lover of nature and of poverty, married to his life's hard work. Perhaps his art isn't traditional, in any shape or form, but there is a genuine aspect of Gaudi's work that one can't help being attracted to.

This picture book does a good job of bringing his life and work to young children and it is a fun read aloud, written in the present tense, in poetic lines. The author's note adds important biographical information including the fact that he was a very early recycler, using all sort of discarded materials in his buildings. A list of websites is also listed. I found this list of buildings with photos very useful!

Guadi would approve! While Gaudi built dreams with bricks, Rachel Rodriguez has created a story from dancing words. Her words float over the page and create a world of wonder and understanding. Understanding of what caused Guadi to emerge, almost like a butterfly from a cacoon. Rachel's roots has served her well in creating this story which soars; The illustrator's feat no less profound, since who would want to be tasked with drawing Gaudi. Yet she did, and together they are a perfect fit.

I'm an adult that has this book as a coffee table book. I love Gaudi and the book is wonderfully done.

My kids loved this book. I ordered it before taking a trip to Barcelona and in a fun way, it prepared them to what they were going to see once we got there.

Antoni Gaudí was a little boy whose eyes brightened with the wonders of the world around him. He was a sickly boy whose "bones and joints" would ache so it was impossible for him to play like the other children. Just because he was unable to run and jump with the rest of them didn't mean he would simply shrivel up and die, but rather took a different look at the world. He would read from the "Great Book of Nature," a book that would be forever reflected in his work. His family were artisans who worked with copper, hammering them into "shapes with a hollow space inside." When he graduated from high school, Gaudí traveled to Barcelona. He was going to be an architect.

His buildings became colorfully whimsical and imaginative. People weren't so sure they really liked this sort of thing and weren't used to "Gaudí's bright colors." There were climbing vines, birds, and unusual little touches that were uniquely his. He made a peephole that looked as if a honeycomb were built into the door and then there was the door knocker that would smash a "bedbug underneath." Such vision and ingenuity weren't always welcome. His work began to get bolder and more imaginative. "Casa Milà waves and swells. Rounded rooms cluster into a giant beehive. Gaudí is turning nature into art." Some people detested his work, but he was only interested in listening to his heart.

This is an amazing biography that seems to catch the personality of Antoni Gaudí perfectly. The artwork and the text mesh perfectly to create a stunning little portrait of this world renown architect. I loved the colors and the way the text and the artwork swirled through the pages. In the back of the book is a brief biography of Antoni, a selected bibliography and additional recommended web site resources. This is an inspired work about an inspired artist that will be a welcome addition to any shelves, even orange crates!

My children have enjoyed many readings of Rodriguez and Paschkis' first collaboration: Through Georgia's Eyes. R&P's sophomore effort hits the mark again. The kids are compelled in the themes of the writing: independent perspective in the face of criticism, and unique artistic inspiration (though they'd express it more simply). They also find the illustrations fun, whimsical, crazy, and creepy. I enjoy it along with them. Like a Pixar movie, it's got something for the kids and the adults.

Building on Nature is a gorgeous book. I loved this author/illustrator pair's first book on Georgia O'Keefe, so I was excited to see that they've published one on Gaudi, and it is even more beautiful. The interplay between Rodriguez's words and Paschkis' art is magical. The book has stayed with me all week -- I think about it when I look at buildings now, and at colors and shapes of everyday things. I can't wait to give it to my Goddaughter.

Rachel Rodriguez has a wonderful ability to write lyrical descriptions of complicated buildings in language accessible to children yet enjoyable for adults. The illustrations enhance and illuminate the text. It's one of those books you hope that your child will pull down from the shelf and request before bedtime.

As with her first book, Rachel has again given children of all ages that most precious gift: a clear eyed view of what it means
to be a world class artist. Soft and hard. Tough minded and visionary. All artists who break new ground face ridicule and rejection as Gaudi did. But their vision, passion, and determination keeps them moving forward. This is such a great message for children to understand. Artists have a calling that pulls them forward. It is not easy to create a new reality, yet it can be such a profound contribution to humanity. Rachel's work speaks to children who are blessed (or cursed?) with the creative spark, to keep at it.
This book is so accessible and such a pleasure to read. It will wash over you like a warm summer breeze. It may even inspire that little six year old nascent musician, poet, artist, and yes... architect in your life. What a gift Rachel has given us.