Book Descriptions
for The Bluest of Blues by Fiona Robinson
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Growing up in early 19th-century England, Anna Atkins was fascinated by seashells, plants, and insects. Anna drew what she saw, making precise images she labeled with their Latin names. She grew up to become a botanist, following her passion in the world of science dominated by men. She was already experimenting with photography when she learned about cyanotypes—images created from chemicals and sunlight on paper. Excited by the possibility of perfectly capturing nature, she created cyanotypes of her entire seaweed collection, more than 10,000 images. Their publication in three volumes beginning in 1843 became the first book of photographs. Cyanotypes are always blue because of the chemical compounds used, and the mixed-media illustrations, all in hues of blue, incorporate some of Anna’s cyanotype images as well as some the author/illustrator created in this inspired, inspiring tribute that includes an informative note on Anna’s life, as well as “how to make cyanotypes.” (Ages 6–9)
CCBC Choices 2020. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2020. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Author/illustrator Fiona Robinson’s Bluest of Blues is a gorgeous picture book biography of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins—the first person to ever publish a book of photography.
An ALSC Notable Children’s Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
After losing her mother very early in life, Anna Atkins (1799–1871) was raised by her loving father. He gave her a scientific education, which was highly unusual for women and girls in the early 19th century.
Fascinated with the plant life around her, Anna became a botanist. She recorded all her findings in detailed illustrations and engravings, until the invention of cyanotype photography in 1842. Anna used this new technology in order to catalogue plant specimens—a true marriage of science and art. In 1843, Anna published the book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions with handwritten text and cyanotype photographs. It is considered the first book of photographs ever published.
Weaving together histories of women, science, and art, The Bluest of Blues will inspire young readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery and creativity.
“The beautiful blue toned illustrations of this book give it a dream-like quality . . . This book will serve as a great introduction to another wonderful woman in the science field.” —School Library Connection
An ALSC Notable Children’s Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
After losing her mother very early in life, Anna Atkins (1799–1871) was raised by her loving father. He gave her a scientific education, which was highly unusual for women and girls in the early 19th century.
Fascinated with the plant life around her, Anna became a botanist. She recorded all her findings in detailed illustrations and engravings, until the invention of cyanotype photography in 1842. Anna used this new technology in order to catalogue plant specimens—a true marriage of science and art. In 1843, Anna published the book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions with handwritten text and cyanotype photographs. It is considered the first book of photographs ever published.
Weaving together histories of women, science, and art, The Bluest of Blues will inspire young readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery and creativity.
“The beautiful blue toned illustrations of this book give it a dream-like quality . . . This book will serve as a great introduction to another wonderful woman in the science field.” —School Library Connection
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
