One of the most popular and recognizable 20th century American artists, Rockwell got his start illustrating advertisements and magazine covers and soon became known for his realistic paintings depicting everyday life in the United States. His work regularly reached a wide audience, who came to look forward to his weekly covers for the Saturday Evening Post. As an artist, Rockwell tried to lead a relatively simple life, using friends and neighbors as the models for his work. His popularity allowed him the freedom to express some of his political ideals, as well, as was perhaps best illustrated by his famous Four Freedoms paintings, and by his portrait of Ruby Bridges accompanied by U.S. Marshalls as she entered her newly integrated school. Gherman’s well-documented biography, which focuses on Rockwell’s work and his enduring popularity, is accompanied by plenty of samples of the artist’s paintings, as well as occasional black-and-white photographs of Rockwell as a boy and as a man. (Ages 8-14)