The story of Olmsted who designed some of North America’s most famous public spaces
When the great cities of North America were being built, little thought was given to the idea of creating “green spaces.” But these oases from the dirt, gravel, and noise of the crowded city streets were exactly what were needed. One of the few people to recognize this fact was Frederick Law Olmsted, North America’s first landscape architect.
Combining his love of nature with his admiration for the structured beauty found in the great public parks of London and Paris, Olmsted turned neglected, swampy acres on the edge of New York City into one of the most acclaimed parks in the world: Central Park. But Olmsted’s success was not earned overnight. He spent many years wandering from job to job, searching for the perfect career. And when he finally discovered his passion, few people were confident in his abilities. But Olmsted fought for the preservation of areas like Yosemite in the USA, and his perseverance would be rewarded: he went on to design some of the most famous public spaces in North America.
“The straightforward text is informative, and the many colorful pencil illustrations add greatly to the book’s appeal . . . [This] illustrated biography makes its statement with style.”— Booklist
“The text brings Olmsted to life . . .” — School Library Journal
“It’s a rich tale of a man finding his true calling and a nation finding a visionary…” –San Francisco Chronicle
Frieda Wishinsky is the international award-winning author of over thirty trade and educational books. Her books have earned critical acclaim and have been reviewed in magazines and newspapers around the world. Her book, Each One Special, was nominated for a 1999 Governor General's Award for text. Her book Jennifer Jones Won’t Leave Me Alone won both the 2004 Stockport and Sheffield Children’s Picture Book Award. Frieda's books have been translated into many languages including French, Dutch, Danish, Spanish and Catalan. Frieda loves using humor and history in her work and exploring new ways to tell a story. She lives in Toronto with her husband and family.
View titles by Frieda Wishinsky
Tundra artist Song Nan Zhang was born in Shanghai. He received a Masters degree from the Beijing Central Institute of Fine Arts, and his paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world. After teaching at the Central Institute for several years, he visited Montreal, Canada, and decided to settle there with his wife and two sons to pursue his painting full time. His works on canvas have been regularly exhibited in eastern Canada, notably at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
View titles by Song Nan Zhang
The story of Olmsted who designed some of North America’s most famous public spaces
When the great cities of North America were being built, little thought was given to the idea of creating “green spaces.” But these oases from the dirt, gravel, and noise of the crowded city streets were exactly what were needed. One of the few people to recognize this fact was Frederick Law Olmsted, North America’s first landscape architect.
Combining his love of nature with his admiration for the structured beauty found in the great public parks of London and Paris, Olmsted turned neglected, swampy acres on the edge of New York City into one of the most acclaimed parks in the world: Central Park. But Olmsted’s success was not earned overnight. He spent many years wandering from job to job, searching for the perfect career. And when he finally discovered his passion, few people were confident in his abilities. But Olmsted fought for the preservation of areas like Yosemite in the USA, and his perseverance would be rewarded: he went on to design some of the most famous public spaces in North America.
Reviews
“The straightforward text is informative, and the many colorful pencil illustrations add greatly to the book’s appeal . . . [This] illustrated biography makes its statement with style.”— Booklist
“The text brings Olmsted to life . . .” — School Library Journal
“It’s a rich tale of a man finding his true calling and a nation finding a visionary…” –San Francisco Chronicle
Frieda Wishinsky is the international award-winning author of over thirty trade and educational books. Her books have earned critical acclaim and have been reviewed in magazines and newspapers around the world. Her book, Each One Special, was nominated for a 1999 Governor General's Award for text. Her book Jennifer Jones Won’t Leave Me Alone won both the 2004 Stockport and Sheffield Children’s Picture Book Award. Frieda's books have been translated into many languages including French, Dutch, Danish, Spanish and Catalan. Frieda loves using humor and history in her work and exploring new ways to tell a story. She lives in Toronto with her husband and family.
View titles by Frieda Wishinsky
Tundra artist Song Nan Zhang was born in Shanghai. He received a Masters degree from the Beijing Central Institute of Fine Arts, and his paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world. After teaching at the Central Institute for several years, he visited Montreal, Canada, and decided to settle there with his wife and two sons to pursue his painting full time. His works on canvas have been regularly exhibited in eastern Canada, notably at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
View titles by Song Nan Zhang
