(3) 4-6 On a trip to Mexico City, Mexican American tween Paloma Marquez and her new friends attempt to solve the mystery of the missing peacock ring, a (fictional) ring that belonged to the intriguing and beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This fast-paced mystery is full of opportunities to learn Spanish vocabulary, gain insights into the art of Kahlo, and glean a small sampling of Mexican culture.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Read: Tails from History series. Illustrated by Rachel Sanson. This lively easy reader centers on painter and famous animal-lover Frida Kahlo's outgoing pet parrot, Bonito (who appeared in one of Kahlo's most beloved paintings, Self-Portrait with Bonito). Smiles (both human and animal) abound in Sanson's appealing illustrations, which humorously depict the joyous relationship Kahlo had with all her pets but particularly with the spirited Bonito.

Reviewer: Erica Wetter

(2) K-3 Illustrated by John Parra. Spanish-language edition translated by F. Isabel Campoy. In this lovely biographical portrait of the legendary Mexican painter, feminist icon, and artistic genius, Brown introduces and connects each of Kahlo's many pets (who comforted her and served as subjects for her paintings) with the artist. Brown uses the comparison to illuminate Kahlo's illness-and-accident-compromised life. Parra's illustrations support the upbeat tone of Brown's accessible text with exquisitely neat compositions in a muted palette. Also available in Spanish.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2018

(1) K-3 Photographs by Tim O'Meara. Morales initially shows Kahlo as a puppet: made from steel, polymer clay, and wool, three-dimensional figures are photographed and digitally manipulated inside double-page-spread collages. As we enter Kahlo's mind, the medium changes to lush acrylics. The illustrations are accompanied by just a few words of text in both Spanish and English that leave readers with a dreamlike impression. An ingenious tour de force.

Reviewer: Kathleen T. Horning | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2014

(4) YA In 1922 when famous artist Diego Rivera was hired to paint a mural in Mexico City's National Preparatory School, he met a mischievous high-school girl named Frida Kahlo. They married years later, but their relationship was not easy. Too few reproductions of Rivera's and Kahlo's art are included in the main photo-essay text; a gallery of their work is appended. Timeline. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Diaz. In 1930, Frida Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera, left Mexico for San Francisco. Novesky describes Frida's loneliness and restlessness; not yet an established artist, she created a painting of herself small alongside Rivera, large and important looking. Diaz's textured and color-saturated acrylic, charcoal, and varnish paintings pay atmospheric homage to the artists. An author's note is appended.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) YA Essential Lives series. This series offers serviceable if bland biographies of people famous in a variety of arenas. Frida recounts her creative achievements and stormy relationships; Walt is largely adulatory; Stan touches on the history of comics. The writing is straightforward, and frequent sidebars help with historical context. Some photographs and archival materials also break up the pages. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Lives titles: Frida Kahlo, Stan Lee, and Walt Disney.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) YA 20th Century's Most Influential Hispanics series. These biographies explore the lives and work of Mexico's most famous artistic couple. Both volumes provide personal information and political context; sidebars offer additional facts about influential artistic or political movements and relevant historical figures. The photographs and reproductions, which vary in quality, help readers appreciate each artist's work. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these 20th Century's Most Influential Hispanics titles: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Reviewer: Pamela Mishkin

(3) YA Chronologically arranged poems outline the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Written mostly from Kahlo's point of view, the free-verse poems incorporate many biographical details while accurately (and, at times, graphically) reflecting the violence, turmoil, and despair in her life. Photographs of Kahlo, as well as numerous full-color reproductions of Kahlo's and Diego Rivera's artwork, accompany the writing. Timeline. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Latinos famosos series. These biographies detail the lives of six notable Latinos, pointing out both the struggles and achievements in their personal lives and careers. The writing varies in style from active and engaging (Chávez, Clemente) to more flat. Numerous photographs and other visual support (e.g., artwork reproductions in Kahlo) help give faces to these important figures. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Latinos famosos titles: César Chávez, Diego Rivera, Ellen Ochoa, Frida Kahlo, George Lopez, and Roberto Clemente.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Famous Latinos series. These smooth biographies of the great Mexican muralist and the iconic Mexican painter reveal how the artists' childhoods (Rivera loved trains; Kahlo suffered a terrible accident) informed their work, although some details are missing, such as how Kahlo died. Both volumes feature well-captioned visuals, including decent reproductions of the artists' work. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Famous Latinos titles: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) YA Great Hispanic Heritage series. These absorbing biographies elucidate what made the celebrated Mexican artists indispensable to one another throughout their long, tempestuous relationship. The authors also offer unobtrusive interpretations of both the political climates in which the artists toiled and the work itself. These books are illustrated with archival photos and fine reproductions of the subjects' work. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Hispanic Heritage titles: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Smart about Art series. Illustrated by Tomie dePaola. As in the previous biographies in this series, the text is presented as a school report, which includes a concession that Kahlo's work (reproduced throughout) may be beyond a child's powers of interpretation. Frith has wisely emphasized aspects of Kahlo's life that will resonate with the book's intended audience. DePaola supplies additional illustrations of Kahlo, complemented with festive, Mexican-flavored borders and motifs.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2003

(3) YA Great Hispanic Heritage series. These absorbing biographies elucidate what made the celebrated Mexican artists indispensable to one another throughout their long, tempestuous relationship. The authors also offer unobtrusive interpretations of both the political climates in which the artists toiled and the work itself. These books are illustrated with archival photos and fine reproductions of the subjects' work. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these Great Hispanic Heritage titles: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.]

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ana Juan. This lavishly illustrated biography argues that the seeds of iconic painter Kahlo's genius were planted in her childhood. Born in Mexico in 1907, Kahlo was stricken with polio at age seven and nearly killed in a bus accident at eighteen. During both periods of isolating bed rest, Kahlo developed and honed her artistic skills. Winter conveys much with a few well-chosen words, and the illustrations are awash with traditional Mexican folk-art motifs.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2002