Meet Cindy Sherman

Starred review from October 2, 2017
Greenberg and Jordan profile photographer Cindy Sherman in an intimate biography that traces a path that began with an ordinary childhood in Long Island, N.Y., where she “love playing dress-up and pretending to be someone else,” and led her to become a celebrated and at times controversial artist. Sherman’s reflections feature prominently as the authors follow her career. A Kodak Brownie camera was her introduction to photography at age 10, she served as her own model in college photography courses, and she moved to New York City after she received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. “I decided to use the camera as a means of exploring my experiences as a woman,” says Sherman. Subsequent chapters highlight photography series inspired by centerfolds, fairy tales, clowns, society figures, and aging film stars, reproductions of which are accompanied by comments from the authors and a group of children. An engrossing examination of how, for decades, Sherman has trained a lens on herself and society at large. Ages 7–12. Agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic.

Starred review from September 1, 2017

Gr 4-8-The duo's latest collaboration centers on a contemporary artist so enigmatic that it's no surprise the authors begin by asking readers, "Who is Cindy Sherman?" The work opens with Sherman's childhood and early career in New York City before launching into chapters organized around milestone projects/installations (Chapter 4 covers Rear Screen Projections 1980-1981, Fairy Tales 1985, and more). Sherman's iconic photos are reproduced with clarity and quality, with most laid out over a page or half page. The authors break down the myriad personas present in the artist's body of work and challenge students to consider the relationship between interpretation and meaning and how much weight to give to an artist's intent (or lack of) when viewing and analyzing art. Egalitarian statements such as "Art is for everyone at every age" lend the book a welcoming tone, and the authors often address readers directly ("Do clothes and hairstyles make us what we are?") and include quotes from real kids that oftentimes demonstrate the subjective nature of art interpretation. An ending "Production Notes" spread takes this to the next level and guides readers through Sherman's Untitled #571, 2016, directing their attention to color, texture, line, shape, and focus. VERDICT This fascinating investigation of a significant U.S. artist will prompt endless discussions on art history, photography, pop culture, gender roles, and even selfies. A title not to be missed.-Della Farrell, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 15, 2017
An introduction to the work of artist Cindy Sherman, illustrated with dozens of her photographs. Sherman has been photographing herself in makeup and costumes since the 1960s, often reflecting on the societal roles of women. This beautifully designed account moves from her childhood through art school to her career as an artist, with sections on her various series, titled by year, such as Fairy Tales 1985 and Clowns 2003-2004. The final chapter, which discusses her 2012 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, highlights her success and influence in the art world. Greenberg and Jordan, who have honed their skills in many previous art books for young people, engage their audience from beginning to end. Their conversational text prompts readers to think, using questions ("Can we find beauty in ugliness?") and friendly commands ("Imagine Cindy alone in her studio"). Well-chosen quotes from Sherman help explain her art and process, while colored boxes set off quotes from children and teens in which they respond to specific photographs. These quotes and the authors' own interpretations offer ways to understand Sherman's sometimes-controversial art. An introductory note invites readers to enter Sherman's world and "discover your own stories"; the book brilliantly gives them the tools to do so. An excellent, eye-opening exploration perfectly pitched to its audience. (bibliography, notes, list of artworks) (Biography. 10-14)

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Starred review from October 15, 2017
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Cindy Sherman's enigmatic photography wowed the art world when she came on the scene more than 30 years ago, and she continues to produce provocative portraits today. This accessible, informative biography covers her childhood playing dress-up, her experiences finding her artistic voice in art school, and the subsequent years of honing her craft and transforming her style. Accompanied by beautifully reproduced examples of Sherman's photos, Greenberg and Jordan's text invites readers to notice details in her work and consider what she's trying to say, all while offering pithy tidbits about her life and achievements. Occasional inset boxes offer opinions from actual kids about individual photographs, like Whoever set up this meal must be extremely insane, or This reminds me of Cinderella when her stepmother locked her up. In addition to cultivating an inviting atmosphere, the kids' comments especially highlight Sherman's protean art style and call attention to the overarching theme of her work: offering compelling glimpses into a character or story. There's a relative dearth of art books for kids focused on contemporary artists, and this masterfully executed biography of a fascinating working artist, written in a tone ideal for its target audience, will be invaluable for libraries hoping to enliven their arts collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)