I did not grow up with Norman Rockwell's artwork the way so many of Americans did; his art did not make its way to the Middle East. Then, when I was in my teens, my American grandmother sent us a lovely book full of his artwork, and I often looked through it; I had never seen art like that before.
In 2018 my husband and I flew out to Rhode Island to take our daughter to her university orientation. We took a few days to explore the area, and one of the places we visited was the National Museum of Illustration in Newport. There I got to view some Norman Rockwell paintings 'in person' for the first time. It was timely because we also went to visit Wendell Minor who illustrated the book I have reviewed below. Brian and I had a wonderful visit with Wendel and his wife Florence, and got to visit his studio, where the artwork in this book was created.
Illustrated by Wendell Minor
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2019, 978-1-4424-9670-5
Long before Norman Rockwell was a famous illustrator, he was a child who didn’t play ball very well, a child who could not jump over three orange crates like his big brother did. What Norman could do, even then, was to draw really well. The children in his neighborhood would ask Norman to draw them a picture, and so he would. With pieces of chalk, he would draw something marvelous on the sidewalk, which would delight his friends. 
Drawing was in Norman’s blood, which meant that he didn’t always find it easy to pay attention in class when he was in school. You would think that a person who loves to draw so much, and who was so good at it, would find art school easy, but he didn’t. It turned out that Norman had a lot to learn, and he had to accept his teachers’ criticisms with humility and equanimity. He “listened, learned, and got better and better,” working hard at his craft.
Out in the “real world” Norman took every illustration job he could find. He needed the work to pay the bills, and he needed the practice. As he created illustrations for booklets, textbooks, and a children’s book, he felt that he was chasing his “dream of becoming a great artist,” but he was also “being chased by the fear” that he wasn’t “good enough.”
At the age of twenty-two Norman decided that it was time to see if he had what it took to be an illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post. This publication was the most popular magazine in the United States at that time, and every week there was an illustrated “picture-story” on the cover. Norman took five of his illustrations to the magazine’s editor and was floored when the man said that he would take all of them.
Norman went on to illustrate more than three hundred covers for the Post. Creating an illustration that told a story was not easy, and it took a lot of work on Norman’s part. He had to come up with a concept, draw sketches, and find models when needed. Dealing with his animal models could be quite challenging as they would not always cooperate. How do you get a turkey to sit still?
Norman’s covers, which usually portrayed everyday people doing everyday things, were hugely popular with the American public, and he became famous. His paintings were charming, often funny, and so easy to relate to. In an imperfect and often unpleasant world they presented “the best side of things.”
Later in life Norman began to use his art to address issues that were dear to him. Some of the things he painted were controversial, but he created them anyway. He realized that he had to paint the truth, even if that truth was distressing or grim. Sometimes painting what was good and right in the world was not enough.
The narrative and artwork in this wonderful book tells the story of a man whose art delighted many thousands of people every week for years. It is clear to sense how deeply the author and illustrator connect with the story of Norman Rockwell. Their affection, respect, and admiration for the artist can be felt in every sentence and every piece of art.
At the back of the book readers will find a biography of Norman Rockwell, notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of Norman’s life, and some examples of his paintings.
