By Joyce Scott with brie spangler and melissa sweet
art by melissa sweet
Published by RANDOM HOUSE
“An artful, deeply felt glimpse into the life of a lesser-known artist.”
Judith Scott was born with Down syndrome. She was deaf, and never learned to speak. Judith was institutionalized until her sister Joyce reunited with her and enrolled her at the Creative Growth Art Center where Judith began making her renowned fiber sculptures. Judith thrived and went on to have her signature sculptures in museums and galleries around the world.
Poignantly told by Joyce Scott in collaboration with Brie Spangler and Melissa Sweet and beautifully illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist, Melissa Sweet, Unbound is inspiring and warm, showing us that we can soar beyond our perceived limitations and accomplish something extraordinary.
FOR EDUCATORS: Check out a Q+A with the creators at RandomHouse TEACHERS + LIBRARIANS.
Find UNBOUND at local independent book stores, through IndieBound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or in your local library.
READ AN INTERVIEW at artnet.com with the co-author and illustrator Melissa Sweet on how she helped adapt Scott's biography for children. Sarah Cascone, August 25, 2021
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Orbis Pictus Honor Book
“Sweet’s nuanced, eye-catching illustrations mimic Judy Scott; eclectic artwork with vivid color and bristling collages, while depicting the sisters’ love with soft hues.
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“Sweet brings her signature style of intricate collage compositions to this picture-book biography of Judith Scott, a fiber artist with Down syndrome…..Joyce Scott (Judith’s twin sister) poetically describes her happy childhood with her sister, which turns to grief and dismay when, in 1950, their parents send Judith to an institution, where she ends up staying for decades. As adults, Joyce and Judith are finally reunited, and Judith finds a creative outlet at an organization giving people with disabilities a place to make art. Judith’s sculptures, colorful bundles of found materials, eventually brought her world renown, though primarily after her death, a note the book somewhat abruptly ends on. Joyce emphasizes the importance of creative freedom, though there’s a sadness here that children might have questions about. Sweet effectively uses color to evoke mood and incorporates homages to Judith’s art in her eclectic, eye-catching compositions. Backmatter elaborates on Judith’s life and art and includes a photo of one of her striking sculptures. An artful, deeply felt glimpse into the life of a lesser-known artist.
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