“Wanda Gag: The Girl Who Loved to Draw,” by Deborah Kogan Ray.
Viking Press, New York, 2008, 40 pages, K-2.
Historically, children’s artists were underappreciated. Whereas today the field of children’s literature and art is widely recognized, the pioneers in the field often worked in poverty.
The great children’s artist/writer Wanda Gag is such a person. Deborah Kogan Ray tells us the impressive story of this talented woman’s struggles to write and illustrate her famous books. It is a story of perseverance, wonder and hope. Ray reveals the talent and virtue of Wanda Gag in this compelling biography, “Wanda Gag: The Girl Who Loved to Draw.”
Born into a German/Czech community in Minnesota in 1893, Wanda Gag might as well have been living in Germany. Everything in her world was from the old country. The German language and fairy tales from Europe form her character. Like many early Minnesotans, Wanda learns the English language as a second language. Her father is a painter and an illustrator.
As the father of a large family, Mr. Gag paints murals on homes and businesses to support his wife and children. Then, on weekends, Mr. Gag goes up to his art studio in the attic and creates works of art. Wanda sits, watching him. A growing desire to paint develops in the child. Soon, she begins painting and drawing as well, and decides art will be the driving goal of her life.
Unfortunately, Mr. Gag dies when Wanda is 15 years old. His last words to Wanda are to finish the artworks he wanted to paint. Her husband’s death crushes Mrs. Gag rendering her unable to take care of her seven children. Because of this, 15-year-old Wanda drops out of school and in effect becomes the head of the family. She does domestic work for local people and sends out drawings to various magazines.
Her talent is obvious to magazine editors and she receives modest payments for her work. This small amount of money from her work sustains her family.
After a few years, a prestigious art school in New York awards Wanda a scholarship. She can survive and actually send money home to her impoverished mother if she does not spend much on food and living expenses. During these years of hardship, Wanda Gag begins to develop her magical artistic talent.
Finally, with almost no money, she moves to a dilapidated house in New Jersey and starts creating her picture books. What does she draw and how does she find the strength to tell such beautiful stories?
How does this German/American woman overcome so many hardships to win the most famous awards in the field of children’s literature?
Why does “Millions of Cats,” her early masterpiece, still delight readers? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this impressive biography of a sensitive woman’s difficult journey through life’s struggles to become a famous author/illustrator.
This is a very inspirational story of Wanda Gag’s ability to develop her love of art and overcome many hardships. Hope and beauty fill Deborah Ray’s artwork and writing about the life of Wanda Gag. At a time of great pain and confusion in the world because of the coronavirus pandemic, the successful struggles of Wanda Gag act as a tonic. She must have been a remarkable, caring person. Sharing a cup of coffee with her would have been an enlightening event. I hope you get a chance to read this fine biography. I found it both inspiring and consoling.
