Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression by Carole Boston Weatherford & illustrated by Sarah Green

About the book: Before she raised her lens to take her most iconic photo, Dorothea Lange took photos of the downtrodden from bankers in once-fine suits waiting in breadlines, to former slaves, to the homeless sleeping on sidewalks. A case of polio had left her with a limp and sympathetic to those less fortunate. Traveling across the United States, documenting with her camera and her fieldbook those most affected by the stock market crash, she found the face of the Great Depression. In this picture book biography, Carole Boston Weatherford with her lyrical prose captures the spirit of the influential photographer.

My thoughts: I have long admired the photograph of the woman with her children revealing the impact of the Great Depression on the poor. This image invokes such emotion and sympathy. Never knowing who snapped the image recording it for thousands to see, it was a privilege to learn a bit about the individual responsible.

Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange

In this children's book the unusual life of Dorothea Lange is briefly told from her history of crippling polio to her traveling across the United States capturing images of the people and their hardships and emotions. As the author states... "she was a storyteller with a camera."

The uncorrected proof I received, showed the illustrations in basic neutrals with only touches of color. The figures are basic and look somewhat abstract in form. This is in keeping with the bleak, bare story Dorothea Lange captured in her photography.

A children's book, this is a good introduction to how capturing the faces and emotions with a camera can benefit generations to come and tell the story.

DISCLOSURE: I received an uncorrected proof to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own, alone.