Two Brothers, Four Hands

by Jan Greenberg, Sandra Jordan, and Hadley Hooper

Early on Alberto Giacometti was recognized for his artistic genius while his younger... read more

Early on Alberto Giacometti was recognized for his artistic genius while his younger brother Diego initially played a supporting role. But Diego eventually became an artist in his own right, too. This picture-book biography of the two brothers born at the start of the 20th century in Switzerland doesn’t shy away from the hard things in their lives—war, poverty, mental health—which inevitably informed their art. But its primary focus is their journey as artists, and relationship as brothers. Greenberg and Jordan advance the narrative with short, uncomplicated sentences almost poetic in their style and economy. Hadley Hooper’s art is the perfect complement—there is not a wasted stroke, and she uses color to reflect different moods. The two brothers’ distinctive personalities come through in a work that also evokes the times and places in which they lived. In spite of the brevity, it’s well-grounded in impressively documented research, and back matter includes a glossary, detailed timeline, bibliography, and a page devoted to helping children think about a single work of art by Alberto Giacometti. (Ages 8–12)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2020

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