Laura Jacobsen Illustration

From Chicago Tribune:
"It's a daring choice, especially for an illustrator, to revisit the life of photographer Wilson A. "Snowflake" Bentley, whose illustrated life story won a 1999 Caldecott Medal for illustrator Mary Azarian. Mary Bahr and Laura Jacobsen have achieved an interestingly different book, for at least two reasons. First, the choice of Charlie, Bentley's brother, as narrator allows the family's vision of "Snowflake," both as child and adult, to emerge. Second, Jacobsen chooses a palette not dominated by snow and ice, and often uses boxes to present close-ups within the broader vistas of pages. A visually interesting telling of an interesting story." -Mary Harris Russell

From Library Media Connection:
"How many books does a library need on an obscure Vermont scientist? In this case, two: Caldecott-winner Snowflake Bentley (Houghton Mifflin, 1998) and this one...Jacobsen's pastel illustrations glow with deep purple, pink, blues and magenta, giving the snow-covered countryside a warm feel. Examples of Bentley's remarkable snowflake art are found throughout the book. Students will be attracted to this book's artwork and to its touching story of a simple man from New England. Look for this tale, which would make a great read-aloud, to be included on many recommended lists both for reading and social studies. Recommended." -Linda Skeele

From Literary Lagniappe:
"In My Brother Loved Snowflakes, Wilson Bentley's brother tells Wilson's life story and how he became fascinated with water...Laura Jacobsen's illustrations in pastels add a warm touch of coloring to the story. This conveys the enthusiasm that Wilson had not only toward snowflakes but also all things found in nature. If she had done the pictures in the dark colors that are commonly associated with the bleakness of winter the illustrations would have not been as successful." -Nicholas Groue

From The Horn Book:
"K-3 Illustrated by Laura Jacobsen. Ostensibly narrated by the subject's brother, this fictional reminiscence affectionately describes the life of Vermont farm boy-turned-scientist Willie Bentley. Consumed by a passion for snowflakes, Willie devoted himself to photographing their ephemeral beauty, often with homemade aids. Saturated black-outlined, warm-toned pastel images deftly illustrate the accomplished text."



				My Brother Loved Snowflakes by Mary Bahr Illustrated by Laura Jacobsen *From Chicago Tribune:* "It's a daring choice, especially for an illustrator, to revisit the life of photographer Wilson A. "Snowflake" Bentley, whose illustrated life story won a 1999 Caldecott Medal for illustrator Mary Azarian. Mary Bahr and Laura Jacobsen have achieved an interestingly different book, for at least two reasons. First, the choice of Charlie, Bentley's brother, as narrator allows the family's vision of "Snowflake," both as child and adult, to emerge. Second, Jacobsen chooses a palette not dominated by snow and ice, and often uses boxes to present close-ups within the broader vistas of pages. A visually interesting telling of an interesting story." -Mary Harris Russell *From Library Media Connection:* "How many books does a library need on an obscure Vermont scientist? In this case, two: Caldecott-winner Snowflake Bentley (Houghton Mifflin, 1998) and this one...Jacobsen's pastel illustrations glow with deep purple, pink, blues and magenta, giving the snow-covered countryside a warm feel. Examples of Bentley's remarkable snowflake art are found throughout the book. Students will be attracted to this book's artwork and to its touching story of a simple man from New England. Look for this tale, which would make a great read-aloud, to be included on many recommended lists both for reading and social studies. Recommended." -Linda Skeele *From Literary Lagniappe:* "In My Brother Loved Snowflakes, Wilson Bentley's brother tells Wilson's life story and how he became fascinated with water...Laura Jacobsen's illustrations in pastels add a warm touch of coloring to the story. This conveys the enthusiasm that Wilson had not only toward snowflakes but also all things found in nature. If she had done the pictures in the dark colors that are commonly associated with the bleakness of winter the illustrations would have not been as successful." -Nicholas Groue *From The Horn Book:* "K-3 Illustrated by Laura Jacobsen. Ostensibly narrated by the subject's brother, this fictional reminiscence affectionately describes the life of Vermont farm boy-turned-scientist Willie Bentley. Consumed by a passion for snowflakes, Willie devoted himself to photographing their ephemeral beauty, often with homemade aids. Saturated black-outlined, warm-toned pastel images deftly illustrate the accomplished text."
Awards 2002 Austin Young Engineers Award