When Woman Became the Sea
Book Cover of the book Cristina Acosta illustrated, When Woman Became the Sea. Written by Susan Strauss and pub. by Beyond Words Publishing in Hillsboro, OR 1998. Select Positive reviews of the illustrations are:
“A lovely creation myth from Costa Rica is retold in read-aloud rhythm and illustrated with gorgeous, tropical paintings. Sound effects are indicated by the waving, explosive typeface that will inspire dramatic story hours. The rich colors and vivid patterns of Acosta’s illustrations echo Latino pottery and design, making this an irresistible package.”
Kirkus Reviews, September 1998
“Acosta illustrates the tale with swirling, thick-lined tropical scenes in which form takes second place to vibrant, emphatic color. The eye-catching visuals. . . and the author’s natural-sounding language. . . make the tale a promising candidate for reading aloud.”
Booklist, October 1998
“Strauss is a storyteller and her colloquial, rhythmic narrative just begs to be read or told aloud. The vivid acrylic illustrations make the most of strong shapes, swirling brush strokes and clean blocks of color to create a primitive style emboldened by a sense of movement, perfect for a myth about making and doing. The page layout is excellent, with spiraled, script like print balancing and enhancing the kinetic look of the artwork.”
School Library Journal, February 1999
