LOUISA LEARNS TO WRITE

Parallels between life and art come into sharp focus in this tribute to a woman who produced an American classic.

Peppered throughout with strong quotes from Louisa May Alcott’s personal and professional writing, this picture-book biography sets the author within the context of her best-loved work. Readers learn about Louisa’s early years and overwhelming desire to write. Yet her need to support her family through her words hits roadblocks, like the discouraging response from editors, one sister’s death, and another’s marriage. Even so, her pen continues to move, and after modest success, she produces a work intended for a female audience—a most welcome addition at a time when books for boys dominated the market. The narrative rather abruptly concludes when Louisa has published the first book of Little Women. After hearing of Louisa’s yearning for fame and fortune, young readers can only learn whether she achieved such goals in the thorough backmatter (which includes tips for aspiring writers, photos of Louisa’s sisters, and even a chart comparing and contrasting Louisa’s life with that of her famous protagonist, Jo March). Nevertheless, Hannigan’s clear love for Louisa and the impact of her work shine through. Moore’s soft-hued illustrations offer readers a strong sense of setting, from the woods where Louisa often walked with a neighbor, philosopher and writer Henry David Thoreau, to the hospital where she worked as a nurse during the Civil War.

A loving ode to an inspiring and incredibly talented writer.