In Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, the real-life story of Diego Rivera is told through poetry and accented with David Diaz's paintings. This Pura Belpre Honor Book details the honesty, talent, and passion of this controversial Mexican artist. He was also a social revolutionary for the Mexican Communist Party.
I wasn't aware that Diego Rivera was so controversial and was not only passionate about his murals but also about the women in his life. I was also surprised that the love of his life was Frida Kahlo, who was very much younger than he was. David Diaz's paintings are soft and glowing with brightness. Absent is the dark black outline present in the previous two books that I had read. The illustrations bring light and depth to the highs and lows in Diego's life. From the happiest times in his life such as when he met Frida to the saddest when his son Dieguito died, the graduation of intensity of color matches the mood. This is my favorite book that Diaz has illustrated because of the brightness of color and the softness of line as color melts into the next. I also appreciate how he paints with the profile view, giving a nod to the Mexican culture.
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