A lyrical and inspiring picture book about the life of Frida Kahlo—told through the language of flowers—and how she blossomed into a celebrated, beloved artist
Like a seed / Frida sprouted / And burst through the earth where / the coyotl once foraged. Coyoacán was the place where Frida grew.
Told through the language and imagery of the native Mexican flowers and plants comes the life of acclaimed and beloved artist Frida Kahlo. Like a flower, Frida blossomed, wilted, was crushed, survived, and thrived, growing into one of the most celebrated Indigenous painters.
This poetic and empowering picture book, written by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor awardee Loris Lora, features the very flora Frida grew in her garden, bought at the market in her hometown, painted in her famous portraits, and wore proudly in a crown around her head.
Back matter will include a labeled, illustrated guide to all the flowers and plants featured, an author’s note, and an activity for kids to make their own flower crown!
About the Author
Nydia Armendia-Sánchez was mesmerized by Frida Kahlo’s sweeping brows and colorful artwork as a child. As an adult, Armendia-Sánchez continued to explore Frida’s paintings and began to wonder how Frida got her flower crown, and so, the idea for Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown blossomed! Armendia-Sánchez also draws inspiration for her picture books from her Guatemalan and Basque heritage. She was awarded the Sustainable Arts Foundation Illustrated Children’s Book Award and named a finalist for the We Need Diverse Books Walter Grant. Armendia-Sánchez lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband and their two imaginative children. Loris Lora is an award-winning Latina illustrator and designer from Southern California. Her sense of color and design sensitivity bring a playful approach to her compositions. She has been awarded two Pura Belpré Honor awards for May Your Life Be Deliciosa and Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Like Frida Kahlo, she finds inspiration in her own garden, observing the wide range of colors, textures, and the occasional squirrel sampling an orange. Lora lives with her family in Riverside, CA.
Praise For…
***STARRED REVIEW*** "Though thin on specific biographical details, by calling attention to the bright, tropical hues of Kahlo and her work, this dazzling whirl of color can’t help but kindle an urge to find out more...a soaring, enticing tribute to a strong and distinctive artist." — School Library Journal
***STARRED REVIEW*** "Flowers serve as an entry point to the life and paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in this enchanting picture-book biography...The illustrations wonderfully mimic Kahlo's magic realism style...An inspiring introduction to Kahlo." — Booklist
"The renowned Mexican artist’s life is retold from nascent bud to full bloom...delicate, opulent text...Lora’s gouache artwork, a kaleidoscopic series of vignettes, emerges as an inspired highlight from page to page, bookended by fun... A rosy view of an iconic artist." — Kirkus Review
"[T]he text itself is lively and engaging, with repetition, alliteration, and vivid language that immerses listeners in the world as Kahlo saw it—vibrant, bright, and full of life. The digital illustrations emulate Kahlo’s works, with riots of color, sharp angles, and a purposeful stylistic flatness..." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
