Can you imagine wearing a heavy helmet and painting with a steel pencil on a zinc plate six fathoms under the sea? That's how Else Bostelmann managed to paint deep-sea creatures as she saw them at a time before underwater photography was invented. Follow the artist's remarkable adventure in award-winning author Jeanne Walker's upcoming book Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep. Enter to win a fantastic prize pack including 30 copies of the book and various swags like bookbag, notebook, stickers and more!
My Review:
Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep is an inspiring and informative picture book biography of woman artist Else Bostelmann. Powered by her passion for painting, Else, at the age of 50, ventures into the depths of the ocean in her swimsuit and a copper diving helmet, connected by a tube to a boat off the coast of Bermuda. She's on a mission to turn what she observes under the sea into artwork. After experimenting with different tools and techniques, she creates paintings that not only capture the breathtaking beauty of the undersea world, but also present many previously unknown deep-sea creatures with scientific precision. Published in the National Geographic magazine during the Great Depression, Else's paintings provide people with an eye-opening experience as well as a way to escape their worries.
Unlike a typical biography that recounts someone's life events in chronological order, the book starts with a suspenseful scene that instantly grabs the readers' attention and arouses their interest. As the story unfolds, readers, along with Else, get deeply immersed in the fascinating underwater wonderland recreated through an engaging narrative greatly enhanced by detailed, animated, whimsical illustrations.
By honoring a brave, talented woman's incredible contributions to art and science, the biography suggests that it is never too late to start following your passion, focusing on what you love, and making your mark on the world. Else's ground-breaking adventure inspires young readers to conquer their fear of the unknown, to tackle challenges with creativity, and to make new discoveries through exploration and experimentation. The book concludes with more information about Else Bostelmann and explanation for some of the scientific terms to facilitate a better understanding of the story and its messages.
Beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated, Else B. in the Sea makes a smart summer reading choice that helps cultivate children's love for nature, for art, for science, and for the conservation of wildlife and their natural habitat.
About the Book:
Ages 5-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Cameron Kids/ Abrams Books | ISBN-13: 9781949480283
A poetic picture book biography about a daring and pioneering woman artist that combines themes of art and science. A perfect STEAM book!
Else Bostelmann donned a red swimsuit and a copper diving helmet and, with paints and brushes in hand, descended into the choppy turquoise sea off the coast of Bermuda. It was 1930, and few had ventured deep into the sea before. She discovered a fairyland six fathoms below the surface—fantastic coral castles, glittering sunbeams, swaying sea plumes, and slender purple sea fans. And fish! Flashy silverfish, puckering blue parrotfish, iridescent jellyfish. Else painted under the sea! She painted what she saw with her own eyes.
Back on land, Else painted the never-before-seen deep-sea creatures described by world-renowned scientist William Beebe on his momentous 1930s bathysphere expeditions for the New York Zoological Society’s Department of Tropical Research. It was a daring and glamorous adventure and a dream come true for Else B., who shared this new, unfathomable world with humankind.
Purchase links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
About the Author:
Jeanne Walker Harvey is the author of many award-winning picture books, including Boats on the Bay, as well as the well-received picture book biographies Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. She lives in Sonoma, California.
For more information, visit jeanneharvey.com. Follow her on Instagram | X/Twitter | Pinterest
About the Illustrator:
Melodie Stacey is a fine artist and illustrator whose work can be found in the picture book Beautiful Useful Things. She lives in Brighton, United Kingdom.
One lucky Grand Prize winner will receive a classroom set of 30 copies of Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep, an Else Bostelman painting on bookbag and notebook, stickers, and customized bookplates!
Giveaway ends 5/23. Open to US only. Please enter below. Good luck!
Else B. in the Sea: Book GiveawayDisclosure: This post is sponsored by Jeanne Walker Harvey. All views and opinions expressed are my own. icefairy's Treasure Chest is not responsible for winner selection or prize fulfillment.
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