Synopses & Reviews
In a small village in Spain
lives a boy named Antoni Gaudí.
His home is in Catalonia, a place of jagged mountain peaks and silvery olive trees, splashed by the sparkling sea. The wild beauty of this landscape makes a deep impression. He thinks of it as the Great Book of Nature, and he will read from it all of his life.
Gaudí becomes an architect, learning the rules of form and structure that buildings are supposed to follow. But the shapes and colors of the natural world still inspire him, and he works them into his buildings. Leaves climb up walls. Pillars are giant animal feet. A long bench snakes around a playground.
Antoni Gaudí turned nature into art, and in the process he revolutionized the world of architecture.
Review
Praise for
Building on Nature: “An enchanting introduction.”—
Publishers Weekly “On one level, the result is a book that uses the artists timeless works to construct a sprawling but coherent illustration of the creative process. On another, it is simply pure joy to look at.”-
Booklist, starred review “Theres plenty here to have young aesthetes hankering for a plane ticket to Spain.”—
Kirkus Reviews “An accessible introduction to a man who was inspired by the natural world to create some highly original buildings.”
—School Library Journal “How wild and wonderful imaginings are realized in architecture is the subject of Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudí, written by San Francisco author Rachel Rodríguez and illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Holt; 32 pages; $16.99; ages 5-8). Curvy structures such as the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona ‘sparkle and glitter and whisper with joy, according to this charming portrait of their Catalonian designer.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Rodriguez writes with a lyrical vitality…that suits her subjects radiant, innovative constructions.”—BCCB
Synopsis
Antoni Gaud grew up in Catalonia, a place of wild beauty. He moved to Barcelona to become an architect, yet he never forgot the shapes and colors of his childhood home. Gaudi turned nature into art, and in the process he revolutionized the world of architecture. Full color.
Synopsis
In a small village in Spain
lives a boy named Antoni Gaudi.
His home is in Catalonia, a place of jagged mountain peaks and silvery olive trees, splashed by the sparkling sea. The wild beauty of this landscape makes a deep impression. He thinks of it as the Great Book of Nature, and he will read from it all of his life.
Gaudi becomes an architect, learning the rules of form and structure that buildings are supposed to follow. But the shapes and colors of the natural world still inspire him, and he works them into his buildings. Leaves climb up walls. Pillars are giant animal feet. A long bench snakes around a playground.
Antoni Gaudi turned nature into art, and in the process he revolutionized the world of architecture.
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About the Author
RACHEL RODRÍGUEZ is the author of
Through Georgias Eyes. She lives in San Francisco, California.
JULIE PASCHKIS has illustrated many books for young readers, including Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: AWorldwide Cinderella. She lives in Seattle,Washington.