World More Beautiful: The Life and Art of Barbara Cooney

by Angela Burke Kunkel, Becca Stadtlander (illustrator)

This stunning and lyrical picture book biography details the life and art of celebrated children's book creator, Barbara Cooney.For every kid who loves art, here is the inspirational story of beloved illustrator and two-time Caldecott Medalist, Barbara Cooney.    Barbara was born in a hotel in Brooklyn, with a view of the city and the sea. Her father loved numbers and money. But Barbara and her mother loved art, and color, and light. Barbara’s favorite days were when she stayed home sick in bed and got to paint and draw.    In the summers, they left New York for Maine, where Barbara scrambled among the rocks, wind whipping her hair, light sparkling on the water. Summer was grey, and blue, and green, and free.    When Barbara grew up, she ventured out into the world with an art portfolio—she thought she might like to illustrate books. And she did,  creating classics like Miss Rumphius, Island Boy, and Hattie and the Waves.    Her character Miss Rumphius said, you must do something to make the world more beautiful. And that is exactly what Barbara did. It's a message that's sure to inspire young readers and creators today.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Art, Nonfiction, Nature, Childrens, History

40 pages, Hardcover

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

Angela Burke Kunkel is the author of Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built (Random House/Schwartz & Wade, 2020), an ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book and winner of both the Américas Award and International Latino Book Award. She is also the author of Penguin Journey (Abrams Appleseed, 2022). Look for her next books from Random House Studio, Make Way: The Story Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings in 2023 and World More Beautiful: The Life and Art of Barbara Cooney in 2024.
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Angela lives with her family in Vermont, where she works as a school librarian. She is represented by Liza Fleissig at the Liza Royce Agency. You can also connect on Instagram @angkunkel.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this at a small bookshop on Cape Cod and it is just lovely. It is a picture book about Barbara Cooney, a favorite children’s author and illustrator.

[Gina House · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written and illustrated children's book about one of my favorite illustrators! I loved the way the author described the author's life in such a simple and lovely way. I was yearning to know more! Luckily, at the very end of the book, there is an entire page with a photo of Barbara Cooney and more information about her life. Highly recommended if you love children's picture books and/or the art of this lovely Massachusetts artist!

[Candy Wellins · Rating 5 out of 5]

WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL by @angkunkel and @beccastadtlander is gorgeous in both its words and its illustrations. This #pbbiography of #illustrator Barbara Cooney is pure magic. I especially love how the author contrasts Barbara’s experiences in life—so many things like her father’s work with numbers are black and white, yet Barbara sees the world in color. This is a great running metaphor for her life and work. If you grew up reading books like Miss Rumphius or (my favorite) The Ox-Cart Man, you’ll love this sweet tribute. And if you’re unfamiliar with Cooney’s work and just enjoy great #picturebook stories, you’ll also be delighted.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

So lovely! ❤️
The story of the illustrator of the books Miss Rumphius, Island Boy, and Hattie and the Wild Waves.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely picture book biography, but I didn't come away with the impression I had really learned about Barbara Cooney -- it felt more like a biography of her work and her impact. It's not bad, but was certainly less about her life. There are two Cooney biographies out this fall and I think the other does a better job sharing her life, but this one will almost certainly be more popular with adults.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful picture book about author-illustrator Barbara Cooney does a wonderful job of describing the influences that inspired her work. The biography focuses heavily on the landscapes that shaped her artistic vision. Fortunately the Author's Note at the back is more specific about dates and places. This would be a useful book to read in conjunction with Cooney's works, especially Miss Rumphius, Island Boy and Hattie and the Wild Waves. Readers who enjoy children's literature won't want to miss this one.

[Amanda up North · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Barbara Cooney's picture book Miss Rumphius, which asks the question: What can I do to make the world more beautiful?
Cooney said that Miss Rumphius and her other books Island Boy (1988) and Hattie and the Wild Waves (1990) are "as near as I ever will come to an autobiography."

This book about her life and art is beautifully illustrated. Fantastic, colorful scenes.
But the telling about her life left me wanting.

[Isabella Kung · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful lyrical telling of Barbara Cooney's life. The illustrations brilliantly depict Barbara Cooney's surrounding landscapes and inspirations, and details of Barbara's works echo throughout the book. I cannot think of a better way to pay homage to the renowned author and illustrator of children's books. The book provides additional dates and details about Cooney's life in the back matter. A great picture book biography recommended for all lovers of children's books!

[Joana Pastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL written by Angela Kunkel and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander tells the story of Barbara Cooney and her journey as an illustrator and all that made her art unique. Kunkel’s lyrical language is perfectly complemented by Stadlanders gorgeous art. A great addition to any library!

[Alicia Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like one would expect in a book about Barbara Cooney, the illustrations are lovely. The language was pretty clunky as a real loud for children. Like others have mentioned, this is not a purely biographical book, so it's hard to feel connected to Barbara as an individual.

My audience comprised of three boys, ages 10, 8, and 5. Their eyes just glazed over at sentences like these...

"In Mexico, there are big mountains, an even bigger sky. There is red adobe, the purple arches of Jacaranda trees, pink prickly pear, the silvery green of aloe and agave. Barbara drives a yellow Volkswagen across a brown landscape, soaking up sun, and color, and light."

Once we finished it, I read it quietly to myself and enjoyed it quite a bit.

File this away under books that are more appropriate for adults than the average child. Or perhaps you should really commit to delivering this book in an engaging way. Get out images of these plants. Try to search for colored pencils that would represent it. Have them sketch. But if you expect to just grab this book out of your read-aloud pile and have it move the kids, you may be expecting too much.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely account of the ways in which Barbara Cooney lived, grew, and became a renowned illustrator of children's books, eventually charting her own course and writing text, as well.
The illustrations and text both call to mind the color choices and nature focus of Cooney's later works.
A must read for anyone who knows and loves her classic, award-winning books.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical and beautifully illustrated picture book biography of the amazing Barbara Cooney who created more than 110 books and won the Caldecott twice. Barbara Cooney shared a life lesson that resonated with her and that she wanted all the children in the worlds to take to heart: be kind and friendly to ALL people.

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the Afterword by her son, Barnaby Porter.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The elegant, lyrical text in this picture book biography about an influential picture book illustrator soars above present-day circumstances, somehow lifting readers' spirits as they consider life's possibilities and the importance of leaving the world more beautiful. In today's tumultuous, fractured times, what could be more important? How wonderful to have such a visually stunning homage to this talented storyteller and winner of two of the early Caldecott [1959, 1980] prizes! I wish the students in my previous years' Children's Literature courses could have had this tribute to hard work, respect for all living things, and being true to oneself, even in one's artistic endeavors. Interestingly, as with Frida Kahlo, it is when she is ill and bedridden that some inspiration comes. The biography also functions as a brief glimpse into the history of picture books and publishing since it was only when she was creating the images for Chanticleer and the Fox that she is allowed to use five different colors for her work. It's noteworthy just how stunning those images are, even compared with modern printing techniques and liberal use of color. The author often refers to her love for color even while describing how necessity forces her to "scratch away in black and white" (unpaged) and uses evocative phrases such as "a landscape that looks like a lullaby" (unpaged) to describe what she sees when she travels to faraway places. And oh, that sumptuous, beautiful double-page spread filled with blues, purples, and greens as water and land meet as she looks on! Preceded as it is by those powerful lines on the previous page, it takes on even more emotional power, leaving readers to contemplate their own brief times on earth: "A life is more than a timeline, dates set down in black and white. There are harsh winters and soft springs, tides that follow the moon, rivers that flow to the sea.... Books close, then open again. We do not always know the next story" (unpaged). The illustrations in this particular book, created with gouache and brimming with nature's beauty, capture her love for art, light, and color. This is an impressive and essential collection for any collection devoted to artists or storytellers.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this beautiful, inspiring, and frustrating. As a biography, it gives more of an impression of Cooney -- a feeling of her -- rather than details about her life. I can appreciate what is here, but it also left me feeling that I wanted more. For, indeed, I have a feeling of Barbara Cooney from her own work. And, some of her own books are fairly autobiographical.

So, for me, this was too vague as a biography. We learn that little Barbara's favorite times were when she stays home sick and her mother offers up her own art supplies for Barbara to use. We don't know why she is sick, how often she has to stay home, etc. We suddenly jump from Barbara as a child to Barbara "all grown up" going off into the world with her portfolio. She first must sketch in black and white as that is what the publishers want, but she yearns to create the art she loves and use colors -- of course, eventually, she does that. All of a sudden, Barbara has children (and, we assume, a husband? what was he like? why isn't he mentioned? did he support her work? was he dreadful? was she pressured to marry? did she love him? did she travel with the kids without him? or because of his work? It's missing information like this that left me frustrated.)

I will say that the overall message of the story is lovely, to leave the world more beautiful because you have lived in it, and the artwork is lovely and in Cooney's style. I appreciate that there is a selected bibliography and acknowledgements -- and an Afterward by Cooney's son, Barnaby Porter. "For [my mother, making the world more beautiful] meant more than simply planting flowers of making beautiful pictures--far more. For her, it meant living graciously, being kind and friendly to all people and animals, being generous, taking good care of the world around you, helping when something needs doing... and even just trying to be very good at whatever it is you hope to do in your life so you can smile and be happy. That smile and happiness, all by itself, will make the world more beautiful."

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

A second picture book about Cooney to come out in 2024.

With an emphasis on her upbringing, this book starts out talking about her birth and parents, includes her summers in Maine, being a sickly child, mentions attending school, becoming an illustrator and inspiration for Chanticleer/chicken artwork, travel with her family to France, Greece, Mexico, and return to Maine (as an older woman), and fundraising for a new library. Backmatter includes an author's note, selected bibliography, illustrations from 3 of Cooney's autobiographies, acknowledgements, and an Aftrword written by Cooney's son.

Kunkel provides a solid introduction to Cooney and her artwork career, but make no mention of her marriage and little about her interactions with her children (how many did she have? not clear). It is straightford, but a little stand-offish and clinical. I didn't feel a "heart" in this book.

Illustrations by Becca Stadtlander were rendered in gouache and capture a closer feeling of Cooney's artwork than that of Eileen Ryan Ewen (whose artwork is reminiscent of Cooney, but more sweeping and beautiful in style). Stadtlanders' show and carry Cooney's heart, although they feel incomplete themselves.

In many ways, this book complements Beccause Barbara: Barbara Cooney Paints Her World by Sarah MacKenzie, illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen (Waxwing, c2024). Though there is some overlap of events (loving Maine as a child, hiking Mt. Olympus, starting out in publishing, and fundraising for the new library), they complement each other in many ways.

Recommended for grades PreK-3.

[NoNieqa Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy of this picture book.
Art imitates life and life imitates art, in this lyrical homage to the life of artist Barbara Cooney. Gleaming with elegant phrases and lush description, Kunkel's gentle story and Stadlanter's charming illustration parallel Cooney's acclaimed picture book MISS RUMPHIUS. Starting with Cooney's birth and ending with her legacy, her resounding message--"do something to make the world more beautiful" will help our young people feel empowered and hopeful. An entire unit can be dedicated to the study of Barbara Cooney's work and art in tandem with Kunkel's sure-to-be-acclaimed biography, which blooms with opportunities to explore color, nature, perspective, comparison and contrast, geography, and more. The nurturing themes planted on every page of a WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL-follow your dreams-explore your world-don't give up-give back to your community-will uplift and inspire.



color studies, nature studies,

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advance copy of World More Beautiful and have pre-ordered this stunning book about Barbara Cooney’s life. The gorgeous illustrations perfectly complement the beautiful text. As I read, I found myself lingering over lovely phrases such as “like a season, childhood turns, too.” Readers will enjoy discovering the many parallels between this tale and Barbara Cooney’s most famous picture book, Miss Rumphius. I got teary-eyed at the end of this book, thinking about what it means to live a life well and make the world just a bit more beautiful. Children – and adults – will want their own copy of this book to read over and over again and to pore over the illustrations. On a more personal note, as a relatively recent Mainer, I was thrilled to learn about Barbara Cooney’s contribution to the creation of a library near my home!

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kunkel who previously captured the story of Robert McCloskey and his book Make Way for Ducklings in a picture book biography Make Way, has now created a new picture book biography that celebrates the work of award-winning children's author Barbara Cooney. First of all, it is beautifully written using poetic like language to talk about the world Cooney translated into books for children. Illustrator Becca Stadlander evokes Cooney's style to support the narrative text. The book provides additional information about Cooney's life in an author's note. There is a short bibliography of additional resources and an afterward by Cooney's son. The story about the Maine library she inspired to be built made me want to visit that place. I hope Kunkel continues to create these stunning biographies celebrating the work of children's authors.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Barbara Cooney, you need to read this book, or experience it. All the details in the illustrations prove to me that Becca Stadtlander is a fan of her work. I loved how the paintings, done by Stadtlander, of Cooney's travels were perfect echoes of the books she illustrated. I loved the writing and how in a way each page told a part of her life that exemplified a surprisingly/not surprisingly a Charlotte Mason idea. These ladies did a fantastic job creating a picture biography. I think even Barbara Cooney herself would be happy with. It was evident to me that her life, artwork, and writing were a success because she had properly cultivated the habit of attention.

The end papers are the perfect purple color and the lavender book cover under that paper book cover has the most perfectly drawn/painted cluster of lupin! It gave me the biggest smile. Bravo!

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lyrically written and gorgeously illustrated biography tells how Barbara Cooney entered the world of children's book illustration, and how her life encompassed the idea that she shared with children, as expressed in the text and by her son in the book's afterword, "We must all do something to make the world more beautiful." In the book, this is exemplified not only by Ms. Cooney's books and artwork, but also by the detail that she used her art and that of other children's book illustrators to raise money for a new public library in her town, built just after her passing. This would be wonderful paired with a reading of Miss Rumphius, or one of Barbara Cooney's other works, and can help readers reflect on how they would work to make the world more beautiful.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

From birth to death, this book covers the beautiful life of Barbara Cooney. All readers can clearly see how she evolves her art and develops her own signature style with vivid colors. This book is easy to read and understand. I think if it is paired with one of her books, it would be perfect for young readers. To see how the person lived, created, and passed away yet left behind such beautiful work. Illustrations throughout are beautiful and created with gouache. Soft colors with such as powerful page presence. This book would be an easy one to recommend to young readers. The text flows well and the illustrations are top-notch. (Diamond 25-26)

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore Miss Rumphius and the stories, mood, and thoughts conveyed by the works of Barbara Cooney. It was lovely to learn about her, in a style that showed similarities between her life and lifestyle to our classic and beloved Miss Rumphius. Beautiful book.

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

This is beloved by those of us probably over 20, but is a little bit of a harder sell for those under 20, many of whom are not familiar with Miss Rumphius.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I liked it)

A really nice picture book biography. I didn't recognize the name Barbara Cooney but I do recognize some of her books that were mentioned (like Ox-cart man and Miss Rumphius), although I'm not sure I've ever read them. The book is a bit sleepy and reverent but definitely beautiful. I'm not totally sure that the intended audience (elementary school students) will really connect.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never forget my introduction to Barbara Cooney. It was a year when for My First Books we gave out Miss Rumphius. At first I was annoyed, I didn't think the kids would go for it. And yet they did! I was shocked! And they also loved it when I got feedback forms back.

Her illustrations do capture beauty and light and nature. So interesting to learn her story and how her style did not start that way!

[Hope Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

WORLD MORE BEAUTIFUL tells the story of Barbara Cooney’s life and her love for art, color, and light in strikingly beautiful language and illustration that evoke a sense of serenity. This biography begins when Barbara was a little girl and follows her life, which evolves and expands with her passion for creating stories and finding her unique voice. The way Angela Burke Kunkel composes each word reminds me of the way I feel about Barbara Cooney’s books: calm, free, and beautiful.

[Elisa Boxer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography is a literary work of art. Angela Kunkel's writing has an elegance to it that feels like brush strokes painting the page. I especially love her descriptions of color as metaphors for Barbara Cooney's refusal to live or create in a black-and white world. The illustrations are gorgeous too, evoking a dream-like feel while simultaneously being grounded in this beautifully unfolding story. A really special book.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books are so lovely, so lyrical, you wish you could live inside them forever. This is one of those books. Lilting language and soft, stunning art full of color and pattern combine to create a book that transports readers to a world so comforting and full of beauty they will be loathe to leave…until the very last page, when they will very likely be inspired to step into the real world and create some beauty of their own. Highly recommended.

[Lindsay Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful biography, both in words and pictures. Kunkel's lyrical text feels like warm sun on your skin, while Stadtlander's soft illustrations evoke the majestic Maine seacoast as a supporting character. This is a wonderful book to pair with one of Cooney's many works. A lovely introduction to a beloved author.

[Ellen L. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lyrical and touching book about Barbara Cooney and how she came to love art and color and light. I love Kunkel’s descriptions and Stadtlander’s illustrations of the places Cooney visited and the scenes and colors she loved in each place—France, Mount Olympus in Greece, and Mexico, and most of all in the place she loved best—her home in Maine.