New Releases by Susan Goldman Rubin

An inspiring, uplifting picture book biography about iconic doll creator, Madame Alexander, whose love for dolls and bringing joy to others began at a young age and only continued to grow. Someday, she thought, I will make dolls that don’t break so children will never be unhappy. Beatrice Alexander’s family ran a doll hospital in their home in New York’s Lower East Side, where she grew to love fixing and making dolls. Beatrice dreamed of becoming an artist, but her family couldn’t afford to send her to sculpting school. She never stopped dreaming, even as she stayed home, graduated from high school, and got married. When World War I broke out, she came up with the idea to make unbreakable, cloth dolls modeled after nurses to support the war effort and help keep children happy. After the war, Beatrice founded Madame Alexander and redefined the doll industry, creating some of the first plastic and collectible dolls, dolls that never break. With beautiful, vivid art by Sarah Dvojack, author Susan Goldman Rubin tells the powerful story of savvy, feminist entrepreneur Beatrice Alexander, who founded the Madame Alexander Doll Company and became one of America’s most celebrated toy makers.

The life of pioneering Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole gets its dramatic due in a sweeping and stunning biography. Mary Seacole spent much of her life on the front lines of the Crimean War, ministering to the wounded, caring for soldiers, and making her mark on the world of medicine. This fascinating biography honors Mary Seacole’s life, from her childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, and her encounters with racist Americans to her treatment of cholera patients in Panama and her bitter run-in with Florence Nightingale, who declined to work with her in Crimea because she wasn’t white. But Mary Seacole knew that the sick and wounded needed her compassion and care, and despite all obstacles, she answered the call to help them. Author Susan Goldman Rubin gives voice to this fearless nurse and healer through captivating details drawn from Mary Seacole’s own writings, while debut illustrator Richie Pope vividly captures her service at the bedside and on the battlefield. Inspiring and engaging, this biography introduces a compelling heroine who rose above barriers to earn a place in history.

This comprehensive biography explores the tumultuous and passionate life of activist, singer, and actor Paul Robeson. When faced with the decision to remain silent or be ostracized, Paul Robeson chose to sing, shout, and speak out. Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson explores how Robeson''s love of African American spirituals and deep empathy towards the suffering of others drove his long, fervent mission as a civil rights activist and his career as an artist. Although he was also an actor, singing was Robeson''s defining talent and where he could best express himself. After exploring socialism, Robeson was targeted by the U.S. government for speaking out about discrimination against African Americans and for his political views. He was labeled a communist during the height of the Cold War and found himself stripped of his U.S. passport. But Robeson never gave in and continued to perform and speak out. The book is based on author Susan Goldman Rubin''s extensive research, including fieldwork in Harlem, NY, in Princeton and Somerville, NJ, and at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. Includes an author''s note, resources, source notes, index, and a preface by author Harry Belafonte.

"An intriguing, well-rounded portrait of a fascinating woman whose many important contributions to art and fashion remain popular today." — Kirkus Reviews Award-winning author Susan Goldman Rubin introduces readers to the most well-known fashion designer in the world, Coco Chanel. Beginning with the difficult years Chanel spent in an orphanage, Goldman Rubin traces Coco''s development as a designer and demonstrates how her determination to be independent helped her gain worldwide recognition. Coco Chanel focuses on the obstacles Chanel faced as a financially independent woman in an era when women were expected to marry; as well as her fierce competition with the Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli; and some of her most memorable firsts for the fashion industry, including the little black dress, the quilted purse with gold chain, and the perfume Chanel No. 5. The book includes a bibliography, a list of where to see her work, and an index. "Rubin''s biography is clear-sighted about Chanel''s faults while extolling her fashion genius. Her source notes and bibliography are meticulous, as is the book''s design . . . This will attract young fashion mavens eager to learn about design history." — Booklist "Rubin expertly chronicles Chanel''s life in this biography . . . Rubin captures the authenticity of Chanel alongside her psychological need to portray a luxurious lifestyle." — VOYA "A well-researched primer packed with details on a significant trailblazer." — School Library Journal "Well-designed biography of a fascinating woman." — School Library Connection "A succinct, balanced portrayal of controversial haute couturière Gabrielle ''Coco'' Chanel." — Publishers Weekly

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is one of the most famous pieces of civic architecture in the world. But most people are not as familiar with the reserved college student who entered and won the design competition to build it. This accessible biography tells the story of Maya Lin, from her struggle to stick with her vision of the memorial to the wide variety of works she has created since then. The carefully researched text, paired with ample photos, crosses multiple interests—American history, civic activism, art history, and cultural diversity—and offers a timely celebration of the memorial''s 35th anniversary as well as providing an important contribution to the current discussion of the role of women and minorities in society.

"How homemade quilts created in rural Alabama became modern art . . . A handsome volume to enchant a new generation of readers and artists." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Since the early nineteenth century, the women of Gee''s Bend in southern Alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. In the only photo-essay book about the quilts of Gee''s Bend for children, award-winning author Susan Goldman Rubin explores the history and culture of this fascinating group of women and their unique quilting traditions. Rubin uses meticulous research to offer an exclusive look at an important facet of African American art and culture. In the rural community of Gee''s Bend, African American women have been making quilts for generations. They use scraps of old overalls, aprons, and bleached cornmeal sacks—anything they can find. Their traditions have been passed down through the decades. Much to the women''s surprise, a selection of the quilts was featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in 2002. The exhibition then traveled to the Whitney Museum in New York City. "Eye-poppingly gorgeous," wrote a critic for the New York Times about the exhibition. He continued, "Some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced." The Metropolitan Museum of Art also exhibited its newly acquired collection of Gee''s Bend quilts in 2017. "Rubin tells the story of a folk art form passed down through generations in a small corner of the Deep South . . . a celebration of fellowship and ingenuity." — Publishers Weekly "A colorful introduction to a uniquely American subject." — Booklist (starred review) "[A] fascinating portrait of an indomitable community." — School Library Journal

Welcome to Roy''s house! Come on in and take a look around. There is a big sofa with room for lots of friends, three red fish swimming in a bowl, a yellow chair for reading, and, of course, Roy''s studio, filled with paintbrushes. Susan Goldman Rubin pairs her simple narrative style with the energetic works of Roy Lichtenstein to create an early concept book that is also a fun and accessible introduction to one of the twentieth century''s most iconic artists.

Shocking pink—hot pink, as it is called today—was the signature color of Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) and perhaps her greatest contribution to the fashion world. Schiaparelli was one of the most innovative designers in the early 20th century. Many design elements that are taken for granted today she created and brought to the forefront of fashion. She is credited with many firsts: trompe l''oeil sweaters with collars and bows knitted in; wedge heels; shoulder bags; and even the concept of a runway show for presenting collections. Hot Pink—printed with a fifth color, hot pink!—explores Schiaparelli''s childhood in Rome, her introduction to high fashion in Paris, and her swift rise to success collaborating with surrealist and cubist artists like Salvador Dalí and Jean Cocteau. The book includes an author''s note, a list of museums and websites where you can find Schiaparelli''s fashions, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.

Beginning with Lenny’s childhood in Boston and ending with his triumphant conducting debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic when he was just twenty-five, Music Was IT draws readers into the energetic, passionate, challenging, music-filled life of young Leonard Bernstein. Archival photographs, mostly from the Leonard Bernstein Collection at the Library of Congress, illustrate this fascinating biography, which also includes a foreword by Bernstein’s daughter Jamie. Extensive back matter includes biographies of important people in Bernstein’s life, as well as a discography of his music.

In high school, Stephen Sondheim put a script in front of his friend and mentor Oscar Hammerstein. "I want you to treat this as if it were a script that just came across your desk," Sondheim told the older man. "In that case, it''s the worst thing I ever read." So Stephen Sondheim kept writing. He kept composing and in time he became the greatest composer Broadway had ever seen. Beginning with the opening night of the classic musical West Side Story in 1957, and tracing Stephen''s life from boyhood to his struggles as an up and coming Broadway composer/lyricist to a musical theater legend, Susan Rubin''s Putting It Together draws readers into the passionate, tumultuous, and musical world of Stephen Sondheim.

"Publicado originalmente en ingles en 2013 con el titulo They call me a hero"--T.p. verso.

Diego Rivera offers young readers unique insight into the life and artwork of the famous Mexican painter and muralist. The book follows Rivera''s career, looking at his influences and tracing the evolution of his style. His work often called attention to the culture and struggles of the Mexican working class. Believing that art should be for the people, he created public murals in both the United States and Mexico, examples of which are included. The book contains a list of museums where you can see Rivera''s art, a historical note, a glossary, and a bibliography. Praise for Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People STARRED REVIEWS "With engaging prose that is beautifully illustrated with Diego Rivera''s paintings and murals, this spacious volume introduces the great Mexican artist to young people. Accompanied by crisply reproduced color images of both the bright, minutely detailed murals as well as archival photos of the artist at work, the accessible account discusses how Diego constructed his art..." --Booklist, starred review "The stunning illustrations include images of Rivera''s murals, his "cartoon" drawings, reproductions of art that he found influential, and photographs. The design, with scrollwork along the top and bottom and an unusual placement of page numbers, exudes style. The text is clearly written, straightforward, and attention-grabbing, with a good number of quotes interspersed throughout." --School Library Journal, starred review "A carefully researched, cogently argued and handsomely produced appreciation." --Kirkus Reviews "There is life to these pages, and breadth to its subject. Short enough to reward a wary reader but with enough context and clarity to bring Diego to life, Rubin takes a tricky guy for kids to know about and makes him precisely what he was: bigger than life." --School Library Journal, Fuse 8 Blog "Enhanced by gorgeously reproduced photos and artwork, Rubin''s account follows the Mexican artist from his early drawings -- as a small child, he was given free rein in a room "covered with black canvas as high as he could reach" -- through his eventful, productive life." --The Washington Post "Rubin traces Rivera''s life from his emergent boyhood talent, through the formal studio education that left him restless and professionally unsatisfied, to realizing his calling to create massive public artworks for the common people, celebrating the dignity of their labor." --Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books Award School Library Journal Best Book of 2013 Best Multicultural Children''s Books 2013 (Center for the Study of Multicultural Children''s Literature) Notable Children''s Books from ALSC 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award 2014

Rubin and Himmelman present the only picture-book biography of infamous Jean Laffite, a real-life pirate who played a huge role in the history of the United States and the War of 1812. Full color.

Continuing Chronicle''s acclaimed series of artist books for kids, Wideness and Wonder is the fascinating story of the mysterious and beloved artist Georgia O''Keeffe. Well-known children''s biography writer Susan Goldman Rubin traces the events that shaped O''Keeffe''s art and how art influenced OKeeffe''s life in return. Wideness and Wonder is colorful, accessible, and packed with the art that made O''Keeffe so renowned.

In 1958, renowned Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal set out to squash rumors that "The Diary of Anne Frank" was a hoax by searching for the Gestapo officer who arrested Anne Frank and her family for incontrovertible proof that the diary is authentic. Illustrations.

When speaking of the American Revolution, there are many unsung heroes whose brave efforts made a huge difference. Haym Solomon was one such man. He risked his life and his finances, went to prison, and was forced to abandon his home and family -- all for the sake of American Independence. During the war, he was given the honorary title of ¿Financier of the American Revolution¿! His knack with people and money helped make his business successful. But when he was asked to contribute to the Revolutionary effort, he left his comfortable life and joined a group called the Sons of Liberty, who supported the soldiers fighting against the British. ¿The story of one of America¿s first true patriots.¿ Full-color illustrations. Reinforced binding.

All Aboard! Choo-choo! Where do you think we''ll go...? Journey through a fantastical land where anything is possible. From trees with faces to men raining from the sky, René Magritte''s delightful artwork is sure to ignite the imaginations of the very youngest readers.

Busy city! Beep, beep, beep! Jacob Lawrence''s exuberant artwork guides readers through a bustling city, complete with builders rat-a-tatting and children playing in the streets. With rhythmic text and 11 iconic paintings, this book is both an introduction to an influential artist and a celebration of city life.

Uses Henri Matisse''s cutout collages to introduce contemporary art and movement.

Discusses the life and work of the American realist painter.

Introduces young readers to Haym Salomon, the Jewish immigrant from Poland credited with being the "Financier of the American Revolution."

A leader of the American art movement known as Pop, short for "popular culture, " Warhol changed the way we think of art. Assisted by photographs taken of Warhol throughout his life, and examples of his early drawings and best-known works, author Rubin traces his rise from poverty to wealth, and from obscurity to fame. After attending art school in Pittsburgh, Warhol started a career as a commercial artist in New York, and quickly won acclaim for his creative advertisements. When he turned to "real" painting, he used his background in commercial illustration and blurred the line between high and low art. Some critics have said that Warhol''s pictures of Campbell''s soup cans and Coca-Cola bottles represent American life. But Warhol said, "I just paint those objects in my paintings because those are the things I know best. I think of myself as an American artist."--From publisher description.

On May 6th, 1945 when the 11th Armored Division of the U.S. Army marched into the Mauthausen Concentration camp, they were presented with an extraordinary gift. Despite their desperate and starving conditions, a group of prisoners had surreptitiously sewed scraps of sheets and jackets together to make a U.S. flag. Even though the inmates had added an extra row of stars, Colonel Richard Seibel had the flag flown over the camp as a tribute to the humanity, perseverance, and spirit of the survivors of Mauthausen. The meticulously researched paintings by Bill Farnsworth poignantly depict the events. Source notes, a biography, further resources and a reproduction of the actual flag are included.

Coinciding with the 350th anniversary of the first recorded Jewish settlement in North America, this lavishly illustrated introduction to Jewish life is a compilation of compelling first-person reports and well-documented facts that provide readers with examples of North American Jewish life. Illustrations.

Provides a glimpse of life during World War II in both the Netherlands and the United States through the correspondence of Anne Frank and her Iowa pen pals. In the fall of 1939, ten-year-old Juanita Wagner of Danville, Iowa, picked a name from a list of pen pals provided by her teacher. She chose a girl her own age who lived in Amsterdam. The girl''s name was Anne Frank. Through firsthand reports and interviews with Juanita''s sister, Betty, friends of both Juanita and Anne Frank, as well as never-before-published photographs, Susan Goldman Rubin weaves the story of two girls -- one in America and one in the Netherlands -- against the backdrop of pending World War II, its brutal reality, and its aftermath. In alternating chapters, Goldman Rubin describes the lives of Juanita and Anne before the war begins, then continues to tell their stories, as well as those of their sisters, Betty and Margot, as the war progresses. Juanita, Betty, and their mother witness the war from afar, aware of its presence only through radio, film clips, rationing, and watching schoolmates and friends leave for armed service. In tragic contrast, Anne, Margot, and their parents go into hiding, are discovered, and are sent to concentration camps. Only Anne''s father survives. Although the girls only had the opportunity to correspond briefly, their letters and contrasting experiences offer a poignant and timely look at lives during wartime. The existing correspondence between Anne and Margot Frank and their pen pals in Iowa is on permanent display at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, California.

Based on interviews with the director and his family, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the movie-obsessed creator of "E.T.," "Schindler''s List," "Jaws," and other masterpieces.

A developmentally-disabled fourteen-year-old faces the challenges of her classes at a "regular" high school, a new job, and a budding romance.

Lucy is lonely when she moves to a new school and has to leave her dog behind, but with the aid of Mrs. Murgatroyd''s magical paints, Lucy discovers that being alone does not mean being lonely.