A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi

This historical fiction picture book is based on the biographical story of the Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi. Imaginative and quirky, the story is told through the eyes of the child artist as he sees the world around him with an “artist’s eye.” Suitable for students from K–7, this story may inspire young artists to explore their surroundings and think about lines, shapes, and colours in the environment. Students may be encouraged to generate questions about their environment and respond to them through art or writing. Teachers may find that the book lends itself well as a read-aloud and may invite discussions about artists, culture, and how everyone sees the world differently.