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It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way
Gyo Fujikawa's iconic children's books are beloved all over the world. Now it's time for Gyo's story to be told -- a story of artistic talent that refused to be constrained by rules or expectations.
Growing up quiet and lonely at the beginning of the twentieth century, Gyo learned from her relatives the ways in which both women and Japanese people lacked opportunity. Her teachers and family believed in her and sent her to art school and later Japan, where her talent flourished. But while Gyo's career grew and led her to work for Walt Disney Studios, World War II began, and with it, her family's internment. But Gyo never stopped fighting -- for herself, her vision, her family and her readers -- and later wrote and illustrated the first children's book to feature children of different races interacting together.
This luminous new book beautifully and openly touches on Gyo's difficult experiences and growth. Through Julie Morstad's exquisite illustrations, alternating between striking black-and-white linework and lush colour, and Kyo Maclear's artful and accessible writing, the story of this cherished figure is told at last.
Growing up quiet and lonely at the beginning of the twentieth century, Gyo learned from her relatives the ways in which both women and Japanese people lacked opportunity. Her teachers and family believed in her and sent her to art school and later Japan, where her talent flourished. But while Gyo's career grew and led her to work for Walt Disney Studios, World War II began, and with it, her family's internment. But Gyo never stopped fighting -- for herself, her vision, her family and her readers -- and later wrote and illustrated the first children's book to feature children of different races interacting together.
This luminous new book beautifully and openly touches on Gyo's difficult experiences and growth. Through Julie Morstad's exquisite illustrations, alternating between striking black-and-white linework and lush colour, and Kyo Maclear's artful and accessible writing, the story of this cherished figure is told at last.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2019
7 people are currently reading
1128 people want to read
About the author
Kyo Maclear
32 books488 followersKyo Maclear is an essayist, novelist and children’s author. She was born in London, England and moved to Toronto at the age of four with her British father (a foreign correspondent and documentary filmmaker) and Japanese mother (a painter and art dealer).
Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, published in over twenty-five countries, and garnered nominations from the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, the National Magazine Awards, among other honours.
Unearthing: a Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023) was a national bestseller and awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017) was a #1 National Bestseller and winner of the Trillium Book Award and the Nautilus Book Award for Lyrical Prose. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by The Globe and Mail, CBC, Now Magazine, the National Post, Forbes, the Chicago Review of Books, and Book Riot.
Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere. She has been a national arts reviewer for Canadian Art and a monthly arts columnist for Toronto Life.
Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities teaches creative writing with The Humber School for Writers and the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA.
She lives in Tkaronto/Toronto, on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Huron-Wendat.
Her books have been translated into eighteen languages, published in over twenty-five countries, and garnered nominations from the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, the Amazon.ca First Novel Award, the National Magazine Awards, among other honours.
Unearthing: a Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets (2023) was a national bestseller and awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Nonfiction. Her hybrid memoir Birds Art Life (2017) was a #1 National Bestseller and winner of the Trillium Book Award and the Nautilus Book Award for Lyrical Prose. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by The Globe and Mail, CBC, Now Magazine, the National Post, Forbes, the Chicago Review of Books, and Book Riot.
Her work has appeared in Orion Magazine, Brick, Border Crossings, The Millions, LitHub, The Volta, Prefix Photo, Resilience, The Guardian, Lion’s Roar, Azure, The Globe and Mail, and elsewhere. She has been a national arts reviewer for Canadian Art and a monthly arts columnist for Toronto Life.
Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities teaches creative writing with The Humber School for Writers and the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA.
She lives in Tkaronto/Toronto, on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, Métis, and the Huron-Wendat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
December 24, 2020
Lovely, informative, powerful biography of an artist and rule breaking visionary. It’s an excellent book and it touched me deeply.
I loved the true story, I enjoyed the art, and I appreciated the more detailed information (with photos) in the back of the book for older children & adults that deepened the narrative.
Highly recommended for readers/listeners with any interest in children’s picture books, the WWII treatment by the United States of people with Japanese ancestry, and so much about American history, and fans of the creators of this book. Great for kids who feel like outsiders and also those who might fear/ignore kids that seem different from them in any way. The art & artist are inspirational. The subject’s family’s experience during WWII was heartbreaking. Both were compelling subjects.
My only quibble is that I’d liked to have seen more examples of Fujikawa’s art work.
The subject of this book, Gyo Fujikawa (Gyo Fujikawa) wrote and published (fought to publish!) the book Babies (Babies) in 1963, I think maybe just a year after The Snowy Day (The Snowy Day) by Ezra Jack Keats was published. My class’s fourth grade school librarian discussed that book with my class in 1962, even though generally she did not read us picture books, because of the groundbreaking nature of the black boy in the illustrations. Yes, that was something unfortunately highly unusual then about picture books. I’m happy to know that Fujikawa was doing the same thing at that time, and delighted that today’s children’s books are so much better regarding inclusiveness.
I loved the true story, I enjoyed the art, and I appreciated the more detailed information (with photos) in the back of the book for older children & adults that deepened the narrative.
Highly recommended for readers/listeners with any interest in children’s picture books, the WWII treatment by the United States of people with Japanese ancestry, and so much about American history, and fans of the creators of this book. Great for kids who feel like outsiders and also those who might fear/ignore kids that seem different from them in any way. The art & artist are inspirational. The subject’s family’s experience during WWII was heartbreaking. Both were compelling subjects.
My only quibble is that I’d liked to have seen more examples of Fujikawa’s art work.
The subject of this book, Gyo Fujikawa (Gyo Fujikawa) wrote and published (fought to publish!) the book Babies (Babies) in 1963, I think maybe just a year after The Snowy Day (The Snowy Day) by Ezra Jack Keats was published. My class’s fourth grade school librarian discussed that book with my class in 1962, even though generally she did not read us picture books, because of the groundbreaking nature of the black boy in the illustrations. Yes, that was something unfortunately highly unusual then about picture books. I’m happy to know that Fujikawa was doing the same thing at that time, and delighted that today’s children’s books are so much better regarding inclusiveness.
December 21, 2020
Super-duo author Kyo Maclear and illustrator Julie Morstad, previously published Julia, Child and Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli, both wonderful especially because of Julie Morstad's artwork, imho. In this one the Canadian team focuses on Japanese-American artist and picture book creator Gyo Fujikawa, born in 1903. Fujikawa, living on the east coast as World War II began, was not interred in a concentration camp, but her west coast family was.
After the war, this illustrator who had gone to school to study art began making children's picture books including one, Babies, that in 1963 was published in spite of years of struggle, as the publisher didn't think a book that featured black babies on the same page as Asian or white babies would sell very well. Imagine that in this time where dozens of books each year celebrate differences! And just fewer than sixty years ago! But she fought to get it published, and others like it. This is what the title refers to, that she was part of beginning this multicultural picture book movement, she drew the way for others to follow.
The illustrations here by Morstad honor Fujikawa, her life and work, including delicately drawn children and babies, just lovely as are all her books. The writing is pretty much a straightforward biography for younger readers and adults who support this kind of historical work., of course. How can the Goodreads picture books category this year--as it so often excludes the very best of books--exclude a book that is so special and and beautiful and important!? Highly recommended.
After the war, this illustrator who had gone to school to study art began making children's picture books including one, Babies, that in 1963 was published in spite of years of struggle, as the publisher didn't think a book that featured black babies on the same page as Asian or white babies would sell very well. Imagine that in this time where dozens of books each year celebrate differences! And just fewer than sixty years ago! But she fought to get it published, and others like it. This is what the title refers to, that she was part of beginning this multicultural picture book movement, she drew the way for others to follow.
The illustrations here by Morstad honor Fujikawa, her life and work, including delicately drawn children and babies, just lovely as are all her books. The writing is pretty much a straightforward biography for younger readers and adults who support this kind of historical work., of course. How can the Goodreads picture books category this year--as it so often excludes the very best of books--exclude a book that is so special and and beautiful and important!? Highly recommended.
September 28, 2020
Canadian author/illustrator team Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad, whose previous collaborations include
Julia, Child
and
Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli
, turn to the story of Japanese-American artist and picture-book creator Gyo Fujikawa in this biographical story for young children. Born in 1903, Fujikawa was the daughter of first generation Japanese immigrants. She grew up and attended school in California, and in the 1920s she became one of the first Japanese-American women to go to college, where she studied art. Living on the east coast at the outset of World War II, she was spared internment, although her parents and brother were imprisoned along with the rest of the west coast (and Hawaiian) Japanese-Americans. After the war, she began working on children's books, and in 1963, after some resistance from publishers who thought books depicting a diverse range of children wouldn't sell well, her groundbreaking
Babies
was published...
I'm somewhat chagrined to admit that although well familiar with her name, I have never picked up any of Fujikawa's books, and this despite my interest in children's literature. That said, I have enjoyed other titles from both Maclear and Morstad, so when a friend recommended this one - thank you, Kathryn! - I immediately sought it out. It is a powerfully told and beautifully-illustrated book, offering a storytelling narrative that gives the broad strokes of the story, and an afterword that fills in more information. I was moved by Fujikawa's life story, and by her principled stand for diversity in children's books - she was definitely a groundbreaker - and after reading It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way I do intend to track down some of her work.
My only critique of the book, and it is something I have noticed with a number of other works devoted to pioneering figures, is the false claim on the front dust-jacket blurb that a picture-book featuring an international set of babies, babies of all races and backgrounds, had never been done before Fujikawa's Babies . As someone who greatly enjoyed the lovely Small Rain: Verses from the Bible , which was published in 1943, won a Caldecott Honor for illustrator Elizabeth Orton Jones, and likewise featured small children of all races, I know this claim to be untrue. In this respect I'm reminded of the similarly misguided Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books , which made the erroneous claim that Anglophone children's literature began with the mid-18th-century publisher John Newbery. I don't really understand why authors and book promoters do this. Is it ignorance? A wish to impress with a claim of being "first?" Isn't is enough to state that the figure in question was highly influential, or that they were one of the first to do something? Do they have to be the first (or only one) to have done something, for it to have meaning? I certainly don't think so, and I don't think that the existence of Small Rain: Verses from the Bible takes away from Fujikawa's accomplishment, so it bothers me that unnecessary claims of singularity or being first are often made in this regard, and that the result is a flattened, simplified view of history.
Leaving that issue aside, I did greatly enjoy this one, and would recommend it to picture-book lovers of all ages, as well as to young would-be artists in need of a little inspiration.
I'm somewhat chagrined to admit that although well familiar with her name, I have never picked up any of Fujikawa's books, and this despite my interest in children's literature. That said, I have enjoyed other titles from both Maclear and Morstad, so when a friend recommended this one - thank you, Kathryn! - I immediately sought it out. It is a powerfully told and beautifully-illustrated book, offering a storytelling narrative that gives the broad strokes of the story, and an afterword that fills in more information. I was moved by Fujikawa's life story, and by her principled stand for diversity in children's books - she was definitely a groundbreaker - and after reading It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way I do intend to track down some of her work.
My only critique of the book, and it is something I have noticed with a number of other works devoted to pioneering figures, is the false claim on the front dust-jacket blurb that a picture-book featuring an international set of babies, babies of all races and backgrounds, had never been done before Fujikawa's Babies . As someone who greatly enjoyed the lovely Small Rain: Verses from the Bible , which was published in 1943, won a Caldecott Honor for illustrator Elizabeth Orton Jones, and likewise featured small children of all races, I know this claim to be untrue. In this respect I'm reminded of the similarly misguided Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books , which made the erroneous claim that Anglophone children's literature began with the mid-18th-century publisher John Newbery. I don't really understand why authors and book promoters do this. Is it ignorance? A wish to impress with a claim of being "first?" Isn't is enough to state that the figure in question was highly influential, or that they were one of the first to do something? Do they have to be the first (or only one) to have done something, for it to have meaning? I certainly don't think so, and I don't think that the existence of Small Rain: Verses from the Bible takes away from Fujikawa's accomplishment, so it bothers me that unnecessary claims of singularity or being first are often made in this regard, and that the result is a flattened, simplified view of history.
Leaving that issue aside, I did greatly enjoy this one, and would recommend it to picture-book lovers of all ages, as well as to young would-be artists in need of a little inspiration.
June 11, 2019
That cover isn't exactly enticing, and I might not have requested this book had it not been for the subject matter, and the author and illustrator involved.
The illustrations on the inside are much more engaging, and even downright beautiful in spots. I sometimes have a hard time with picture-book biographies of artists, especially when they seem to be used as a vehicle to showcase the work of yet another artist. But in this case, Julie Morstad's illustrations really work. She depicts Gyo and her family during her childhood, highlighting the girl's love of drawing and art. (It doesn't hurt that Morstad's style isn't wildly different from Fujikawa's, especially when she's drawing children and babies.)
Gyo was spared being sent to an internment camp during World War Two because of location (having been sent to New York City by the Walt Disney Company for work). Would we have had her lovely collection of work had she been in California in 1942? It's hard to say. But the experience did shape her, as her family ended up in the camps, and of course she experienced racism because of the way she looked (she was actually born in California, which makes the idea of sending her to a camp as a foreign enemy all the more ridiculous).
I didn't realize that her book Babies was one of the first to depict a diverse selection of children. The publisher balked at first because of this! But it went on to become a bestseller, proving that there's room for everyone in children's publishing.
There's a nice biographical section at the back with a timeline of her life and a few photographs. The only thing this book is really missing are some samples of Fujikawa's art (although, there may be copyright issues involved with that, so I won't hold that against the book).
Overall, this is a strong picture-book biography about a woman whose art many people may have encountered in their childhood. If you're a fan of Fujikawa's work (or even if you're not), you might find this to be an interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for providing a digital ARC.
The illustrations on the inside are much more engaging, and even downright beautiful in spots. I sometimes have a hard time with picture-book biographies of artists, especially when they seem to be used as a vehicle to showcase the work of yet another artist. But in this case, Julie Morstad's illustrations really work. She depicts Gyo and her family during her childhood, highlighting the girl's love of drawing and art. (It doesn't hurt that Morstad's style isn't wildly different from Fujikawa's, especially when she's drawing children and babies.)
Gyo was spared being sent to an internment camp during World War Two because of location (having been sent to New York City by the Walt Disney Company for work). Would we have had her lovely collection of work had she been in California in 1942? It's hard to say. But the experience did shape her, as her family ended up in the camps, and of course she experienced racism because of the way she looked (she was actually born in California, which makes the idea of sending her to a camp as a foreign enemy all the more ridiculous).
I didn't realize that her book Babies was one of the first to depict a diverse selection of children. The publisher balked at first because of this! But it went on to become a bestseller, proving that there's room for everyone in children's publishing.
There's a nice biographical section at the back with a timeline of her life and a few photographs. The only thing this book is really missing are some samples of Fujikawa's art (although, there may be copyright issues involved with that, so I won't hold that against the book).
Overall, this is a strong picture-book biography about a woman whose art many people may have encountered in their childhood. If you're a fan of Fujikawa's work (or even if you're not), you might find this to be an interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for providing a digital ARC.
January 25, 2021
Good job capturing Fujikawa's style! I instantly recognized it from having her Babies and A Child's Book of Poems as a little kid.
I hadn't known much about Gyo Fujikawa's life. Pretty interesting and brave. I want to learn more about her poet/social activist mother.
I hadn't known much about Gyo Fujikawa's life. Pretty interesting and brave. I want to learn more about her poet/social activist mother.
September 15, 2020
Absolutely outstanding picture book biography of one of my favorite children's book author/illustrators, Gyo Fujikawa (Gyo pronounced "ghee-o"). I've delighted in her illustrations since I was a child but, since I was fortunate enough to grow-up in a time and place where it was not unusual for children of all colors to play together, I did not fully appreciate the groundbreaking nature of her work until I was older. Before reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about Fujikawa as a person, other than that she must have been someone special to make her books so inclusive at a time when that was not the norm. This book does a wonderful job of showing why and how Fujikawa pushed the boundaries in children's book publishing.
Fujikawa faced prejudice herself as a Japanese-American, particularly during WWII, and her family in California went through the heartbreak of losing everything when they were sent to internment camps. The part where her mother burns all their possessions, rather than sell them for mere pennies to the junk dealers... I tell you, people, I was practically sobbing.
Fifteen years later, Gyo witnesses the protests of the Civil Rights Movement. She saw the promise of change. And, yet, in the world of children's books, "it was the same old stories -- mothers in aprons and father with pipes and a world of only white children. Gyo knew a book could hold more and do more." The publishers said no. No to mixing white babies and black babies in books when laws separated people in real life. They said it would hurt sales in the American South. "But Gyo wouldn't budge. She closed her eyes and imagined all the times she had felt unseen and unwelcome. She looked the publisher in the eye and said: 'It shouldn't be that way. Not out there in the streets. Not here on this page. We need to break the rules.'" Her first book, Babies was published in 1963, one year before the Civil Rights Act made segregation illegal. The book went on to sell nearly two million copies in the United States alone.
I truly cannot say enough good things about this book. It touched me deeply and tells such an important story that is relevant not only for fans of Fujikawa's work or those interested in art or children's books but those interested in history, civil rights, etc. The "Note from the Author and Illustrator" at the back fills in even more details about Fujikawa's life and work. There's a bibliography, though much of what they learned came directly from Gyo's own nieces and nephews (she had no children of her own). The Timeline of Gyo's life is detailed and extensive and includes many photographs. I do wish that a few of Gyo's own illustrations would have been reproduced fully but the illustrations are so cleverly done that you truly feel you are seeing her "Babies" bouncing across the page by the end of the book. Highly recommended!
Fujikawa faced prejudice herself as a Japanese-American, particularly during WWII, and her family in California went through the heartbreak of losing everything when they were sent to internment camps. The part where her mother burns all their possessions, rather than sell them for mere pennies to the junk dealers... I tell you, people, I was practically sobbing.
Fifteen years later, Gyo witnesses the protests of the Civil Rights Movement. She saw the promise of change. And, yet, in the world of children's books, "it was the same old stories -- mothers in aprons and father with pipes and a world of only white children. Gyo knew a book could hold more and do more." The publishers said no. No to mixing white babies and black babies in books when laws separated people in real life. They said it would hurt sales in the American South. "But Gyo wouldn't budge. She closed her eyes and imagined all the times she had felt unseen and unwelcome. She looked the publisher in the eye and said: 'It shouldn't be that way. Not out there in the streets. Not here on this page. We need to break the rules.'" Her first book, Babies was published in 1963, one year before the Civil Rights Act made segregation illegal. The book went on to sell nearly two million copies in the United States alone.
I truly cannot say enough good things about this book. It touched me deeply and tells such an important story that is relevant not only for fans of Fujikawa's work or those interested in art or children's books but those interested in history, civil rights, etc. The "Note from the Author and Illustrator" at the back fills in even more details about Fujikawa's life and work. There's a bibliography, though much of what they learned came directly from Gyo's own nieces and nephews (she had no children of her own). The Timeline of Gyo's life is detailed and extensive and includes many photographs. I do wish that a few of Gyo's own illustrations would have been reproduced fully but the illustrations are so cleverly done that you truly feel you are seeing her "Babies" bouncing across the page by the end of the book. Highly recommended!
June 11, 2019
A short/children biography book about following your dream. I like the minimalistic illustrations style and the inspiring story. Not sure how children would enjoy it, myself find it a bit long, because it was really slow and not much happen in term of «action». It was good, but very slow...
October 28, 2020
This picture book biography is filled with ink drawings and enough text to tell Gyo's story without detracting from her style. This could be read to a wide range of ages and sent me on the hunt for books that have been written and/or illustrated by Fujikawa.
June 5, 2022
You'd have to be a pretty sophisticated kid to get into this children's picture book that's a biography of children's book author and illustrator Gyo Fujikawa, who paved the way decades ago for children's books featuring kids of multiple races. As an adult reader, I found it marvelous.
The refined Japanese-style illustrations are lovely, sophisticated and substantial. The story is simply told with simple language, and the underlying story is quite powerful.
I hope this book helps to bring back into print more of Fujikawa's work.
The refined Japanese-style illustrations are lovely, sophisticated and substantial. The story is simply told with simple language, and the underlying story is quite powerful.
I hope this book helps to bring back into print more of Fujikawa's work.
May 4, 2020
From a very young age, Gyo Fujikawa loved to fill pages with her artwork. One of her teachers in high school found a way to get her through art school and she was eventually hired by the Walt Disney’s studio in New York (to work on promotional work for the movie Fantasia). This picture book biography shares one of her lowest points in life, when Roosevelt signed an Executive Order sending all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast to internment camps, including Fujikawa’s family. 😦 But we also witness one of her highest points when she wrote and illustrated a children’s book called Babies which included multiracial characters on the same page. At first the publishers said “NO!” and explained that white Americans would be very unhappy about having white babies illustrated alongside black and brown babies, but Fujikawa persisted and was successful in publication. She went on to create more than 50 children’s books before her death in 1998.
You don’t want to miss the back matter which includes black and white photos from Gyo’s family, a timeline of important happenings from 1908 to 1998, an author and illustrator’s note with more information about Gyo’s life, a selected bibliography, and sources used in the writing of this book. The artwork in this book was created with liquid watercolor, gouache, and pencil crayons.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
You don’t want to miss the back matter which includes black and white photos from Gyo’s family, a timeline of important happenings from 1908 to 1998, an author and illustrator’s note with more information about Gyo’s life, a selected bibliography, and sources used in the writing of this book. The artwork in this book was created with liquid watercolor, gouache, and pencil crayons.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
January 19, 2021
This book is damn near perfect.
Read
December 13, 2019Do you know Gyo Fujikawa? You might, even if you don't think so. She was a children's book artist and author, the first to publish illustrations of multicultural children in an American book. I recognized her art from a volume of poetry that we had at my grandparents' house when I was growing up. This delicate picture book biography celebrates this book creator in just the way she'd love being commemorated: in a children's book. Pair with Planting Stories for another picture book biography of an influential book person dedicated to representation of all children.
November 21, 2019
Gorgeous illustrations and introduced me to a really cool woman!
December 11, 2023
Beautiful. I had no idea who Gyo Fujikawa was before I read this book, but the Kyo Maclear/Julie Morstad collab was irresistible to me.
I really think I need to go find Fujikawa's baby book through the library now.
I really think I need to go find Fujikawa's baby book through the library now.
October 3, 2020
Holy Cow. Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad knocked this book out of the water with their biography of Gyo Fujikawa, a pioneering Japanese American artist, muralist, and illustrator who published one of the first picture books in America to feature multicultural and multiracial children interacting with each other. Everything about this book was wonderful, including the subject herself, a fiercely strong and independent woman who was not only an accomplished artist, but also an advocate for equal pay. Back matter includes a piece of information about how Gyo refused to work for publishers who didn't pay their artists working wage. She was also one of the first illustrators to ask for royalties on her books, saying, "Let's not follow the old rules. Let's make new ones."
Perhaps because the author is herself an Asian-American woman, this book does not shy away from the overt and covert racism that Gyo faced as an Asian woman. A powerful section of the book includes the depression that Gyo felt when her family was put into internment camps. A beautiful two page spread shows an entire world in gray, except for the umbrella Gyo carries. "When the world felt gray, color lifted her. She wondered, could art comfort and lift others too?"
The book also inspired me to promptly search for my own Gyo Fujikawa books from my library. Ending with one of her illustrations from the groundbreaking book Babies, published in 1963. It sold over 2,000,000 copies, even though editors told her a book featuring non-white children would harm sales in the south.
A New Yorker Article about Gyo if you're interested in more information about her revolutionary illustrations!
Perhaps because the author is herself an Asian-American woman, this book does not shy away from the overt and covert racism that Gyo faced as an Asian woman. A powerful section of the book includes the depression that Gyo felt when her family was put into internment camps. A beautiful two page spread shows an entire world in gray, except for the umbrella Gyo carries. "When the world felt gray, color lifted her. She wondered, could art comfort and lift others too?"
The book also inspired me to promptly search for my own Gyo Fujikawa books from my library. Ending with one of her illustrations from the groundbreaking book Babies, published in 1963. It sold over 2,000,000 copies, even though editors told her a book featuring non-white children would harm sales in the south.
A New Yorker Article about Gyo if you're interested in more information about her revolutionary illustrations!
April 16, 2020
It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way is a children's picture book written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Julie Morstad. It is a splendid picture-book celebration of an artist and activist in Gyo Fujikawa.
Gyo Fujikawa was an American illustrator and children's book author. A prolific creator of more than fifty books for children, her work is regularly in reprint and has been translated into seventeen languages and published in twenty-two countries.
Maclear's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The brief narrative details Fujikawa’s life from a child artist to her heart breaking feelings towards her family being interned, and to her revolutionary book: Babies. Backmatter includes a detailed timeline with photos and quotes, an extensive note from the creators, and a selected bibliography and sources list. Morstad's artwork is crisp line drawings alternate with lively watercolor and gouache scenes that revolve around patterned textiles.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Gyo Fujikawa was treated like an outsider throughout her Californian upbringing but remains determined, attending college and traveling to Japan. Working as a freelance artist in New York City when the Second World War broke out, she's heartbroken when her family members, along with thousands of other Japanese-American citizens, are interned.
All in all, It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way is a wonderful and splendid biography of a picture book artist and activist in Gyo Fujikawa.
Gyo Fujikawa was an American illustrator and children's book author. A prolific creator of more than fifty books for children, her work is regularly in reprint and has been translated into seventeen languages and published in twenty-two countries.
Maclear's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The brief narrative details Fujikawa’s life from a child artist to her heart breaking feelings towards her family being interned, and to her revolutionary book: Babies. Backmatter includes a detailed timeline with photos and quotes, an extensive note from the creators, and a selected bibliography and sources list. Morstad's artwork is crisp line drawings alternate with lively watercolor and gouache scenes that revolve around patterned textiles.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Gyo Fujikawa was treated like an outsider throughout her Californian upbringing but remains determined, attending college and traveling to Japan. Working as a freelance artist in New York City when the Second World War broke out, she's heartbroken when her family members, along with thousands of other Japanese-American citizens, are interned.
All in all, It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way is a wonderful and splendid biography of a picture book artist and activist in Gyo Fujikawa.
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May 28, 2019IT BEGAN WITH A PAGE sheds brilliant light on one of America's most forward-thinking artists and children's book makers, showing a woman who used her art to create a more inclusive and bright world. Morstad, whose illustrations often evoke the soft vibrancy of Fujikawa's, is a perfect fit in visualizing her story. Maclear's engaging paean conjures an image of Fujikawa that fits solidly in the present, making her work all the more relevant to readers today. This is an exquisite, immersive biography that will delight anyone who loves books.
November 21, 2019
An excellent picture book biography about a Japanese American children's book author and illustrator. Accompanied by wonderful liquid watercolor, gouache, and pencil crayon artwork. Includes additional information about Fujikawa and a bibliography of sources.
November 1, 2019
A fine art biography with plenty of American history thrown in. I love the connection made from her art and the changing culture in the 1960s.
November 5, 2019
An inspiring biography of Gyo Fujikawa, artist and early advocate for diverse books, features beautiful and detailed illustrations in its own right
January 3, 2020
A biography of a Japanese artist who worked to make children's books more inclusive. While she wasn't interned in American camps during WWII, her parents were.
November 1, 2022
It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear. Despite the book's length and main ideals not being a book kids are likely to pick up on their own, this biography does an outstanding job on highlighting themes of determination, the power of books, and the importance of social justice. Kyo Maclear does an amazing job at telling Gyo's story: A small invisible little Japanese-American girl finds her love for art more impactful than anything she could imagine. Racial injustice and determination were driving factors in this girl's life and would eventually write and illustrate books featuring children of different races together on the same page. She persisted that this is right and the world should not only consist white children. After more persistence, her book got published and we were able to see how one person made a difference in the picture book industry. From this story, kids have the ability to learn about the mistreatment of others in American history and also get to reflect on why it is important to have diversity in books and what it means to have a character they can connect with. It is always wonderful to read books about finding justice for subjects we often take for granted or ignore. I would definitely say it is a great book to introduce the different experiences people would have immigrating to this country.
Throughout the book, readers can see the different uses of fonts and incorporate hand-writing to represent digaloge. Examples of this can be seen when Gyo is sitting under the table while her mom is having dinner with her friends. Julie Morstad, the illustrator, did a beautiful job cleanly illustrating watercolor illustrations that display the right emotions and highlight crucial moments that impacted Fujikawa’s life. Some pages are filled edge to edge with color but some are only small black and white illustrations. I like to think that the narration and written text that continues throughout the story offers more of a genuine look at the isolation and injustice of Gyo’s life. We truly get a feel and understanding of what it could have been like. Without ever actually describing what is truly happening from the text, illustrations, and time period, readers are able to understand what is happening. This is such a WOW book.
Throughout the book, readers can see the different uses of fonts and incorporate hand-writing to represent digaloge. Examples of this can be seen when Gyo is sitting under the table while her mom is having dinner with her friends. Julie Morstad, the illustrator, did a beautiful job cleanly illustrating watercolor illustrations that display the right emotions and highlight crucial moments that impacted Fujikawa’s life. Some pages are filled edge to edge with color but some are only small black and white illustrations. I like to think that the narration and written text that continues throughout the story offers more of a genuine look at the isolation and injustice of Gyo’s life. We truly get a feel and understanding of what it could have been like. Without ever actually describing what is truly happening from the text, illustrations, and time period, readers are able to understand what is happening. This is such a WOW book.
September 22, 2022
“It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way” is a wonderful picture book telling the life of Japanese-American Gyo Fujikawa and how she impacted the world of children’s books in the 1960s, and how children see themselves in books. Strong writing paired with whimsical illustrations make this a delightful read aloud. Author, Kyo Maclear tells the story of Fujikawa, born in California in 1908, and how she grew up, already drawing, from a young age. Facing discrimination as a young girl didn’t impact her continued passion for painting and drawing. Her talent, finally recognized, led her to challenge stereotypes against women and women from minority groups, as she enrolled in college and continued her studies and practice in the US and in Japan. Living on the East Coast of the US when Pearl Harbor was bombed, she avoided the fate of her family in the Japanese Internment Camps. Adversity and injustice would further impact Fujikawa in her art and writing, leading to her having a great impact on the nature of children’s books, ensuring that children of all cultures were presented, allowing for people to see a world that included everyone. Maclear and Morstad’s book is a wonderful addition to a collection of books that tell the stories of feminists and activists from the 20th century, supporting the idea that small acts can often have great and long-lasting impacts.
- Teacher Tips -
* Great to read in conjunction with other stories about female activists and where seemingly small acts lead to great change
* Read one of Fujikawa’s books and discuss the impact her books may have had
* What might authors choose to write and illustrate today in order to have an impact on society and how we see ourselves?
* Use as part of a unit on Japanese Internment (US or in Canada). What impact did the camps have on Japanese-Americans and Japanese-Canadians? How did experiences differ for people living away from the West Coast?
- Teacher Tips -
* Great to read in conjunction with other stories about female activists and where seemingly small acts lead to great change
* Read one of Fujikawa’s books and discuss the impact her books may have had
* What might authors choose to write and illustrate today in order to have an impact on society and how we see ourselves?
* Use as part of a unit on Japanese Internment (US or in Canada). What impact did the camps have on Japanese-Americans and Japanese-Canadians? How did experiences differ for people living away from the West Coast?
December 15, 2021
I knew nothing of Gyo Fujikawa (pronounced "ghee-o" according to the back content) before reading this book and now I want to go find all the books she wrote/illustrated. Especially with my bff's baby on the way! This is a book for anyone interested in artists and/or children's literature. The author and illustrator worked with Fujikawa's family to learn all the interesting and personal stories included in this book, along with the details of her professional development. There is a timeline of her life included in the back, along with photos of her. Fujikawa sounds like quite a force, a phenomenal woman that I would want my children to know and look up to. If you are looking for biographies of activists/artists/women of color - this is a must-read!
I think this book would work best with advanced young readers of picture books, a reluctant reader who is a bit older, or a read-together book.
I think this book would work best with advanced young readers of picture books, a reluctant reader who is a bit older, or a read-together book.
October 11, 2021
A picture book about an illustrator of picture books...
Gyo Fujikawa many, varied, experiences in her life and created art...and beauty. She and her family moved to America trying to build a better life...she grew up seeing her family grow and fight for their rights in their new home.
Gyo learned early she was a gifted artist, and that helped her learn to fit in...she always felt different, apart, but art helped her...
After art school, she started working for the Disney Studios...but then WWII hit. She was saved from being uprooted and moved to interment camps like her family. They lost everything.
With her feelings of isolation, the prejudice, the lack of rights and opportunities, she still created beautiful art...especially babies. Beautiful, healthy babies. She discovered illustrating children's books...including A Child's Garden of Verses! That is one of my favorites.
NOW I need to find her books and read them. We are lucky she used her talents to bring beauty into the world, despite the ways her family was treated.
Gyo Fujikawa many, varied, experiences in her life and created art...and beauty. She and her family moved to America trying to build a better life...she grew up seeing her family grow and fight for their rights in their new home.
Gyo learned early she was a gifted artist, and that helped her learn to fit in...she always felt different, apart, but art helped her...
After art school, she started working for the Disney Studios...but then WWII hit. She was saved from being uprooted and moved to interment camps like her family. They lost everything.
With her feelings of isolation, the prejudice, the lack of rights and opportunities, she still created beautiful art...especially babies. Beautiful, healthy babies. She discovered illustrating children's books...including A Child's Garden of Verses! That is one of my favorites.
NOW I need to find her books and read them. We are lucky she used her talents to bring beauty into the world, despite the ways her family was treated.
April 7, 2024
I’m in awe with the illustration! I feel like there’s still something missing that should be explored more about Gyo but maybe that should be enough.
I love how separation/isolation as a results of assimilation is portrayed in each pages. Even the structures of the characters, their surroundings, and the way they interact fit the narrative; only until the end do you see fully rounded bouncy bottom lines spilling all over the page to illustrate how Gyo broke the old rules to make way for new stories to exist!
I love how separation/isolation as a results of assimilation is portrayed in each pages. Even the structures of the characters, their surroundings, and the way they interact fit the narrative; only until the end do you see fully rounded bouncy bottom lines spilling all over the page to illustrate how Gyo broke the old rules to make way for new stories to exist!
August 23, 2020
I loved the sparse, stylistic artwork that alternated between color and black and white, depending on story events. There was a depth and seriousness to this story about a not-very-well-known artist that covered a broad range of social justice issues. The timeline at the end added also to the story itself, rounding out some of the details that seemed necessary given how little known Fujikawa is today, honoring her accomplishments and legacy in kid lit.
December 28, 2020
I am in love with informative/ biographical picture books& this book is exemplary. In my whole life I might never have wondered who was the first person to put children of different races together in a picture book. Reading about Gyo Fujikawa was a wonderful revelation. I’ve already read more about her & now will go find her books.
January 18, 2020
Having just read The Queens of Animation not too long ago, I jumped at the chance to read this short bio about Gyo Fujikawa. It's beautifully done and the illustrations are lovely. I also ordered two of her children's books to share with my son.
February 26, 2020
World's Magazine Children's Book of the Year Recommendation. Beautiful story about the life of artist Gyo Fujikawa, including child-appropriate depiction of Japanese-Americans' treatment in the US during World War II.
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