PPBF – A Tulip in Winter: A Story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis

For the last day of Women’s History Month, I’m happy to share a Perfect Picture Book that features a little-known female folk artist and a harbinger of spring, tulips!

Title: A Tulip in Winter: A Story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis

Written By: Kathy Stinson

Art By: Lauren Soloy

Publisher/Date: Greystone Kids/2023

Suitable for Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: biography, folk art, overcoming obstacles, finding beauty in the everyday

Opening:

Close to a highway sat a little house like others in Nova Scotia.

And not like others.

Birds and butterflies danced up and down its door and flowers were painted on its window!

Who would do such a thing?

A woman as one-of-a-kind as her house!

Brief Synopsis: The biography of Maud Lewis, a folk artist in Nova Scotia.

Links to Resources:

• Discover folk art;
• Try making your own folk art creations;
• Learn about Nova Scotia, the Canadian province where Maud Lewis lived;
• See the tiny house that Maud decorated with her painting and that’s now housed inside a museum.

Why I Like this Book:

Until I learned about A Tulip in Winter, I had never heard of Maud Lewis nor seen her art. My guess is that you might not have either. But her exuberant folk art brought smiles to others, and this full-life biography will bring smiles to children.

At the outset, Maud was a cheerful child who enjoyed playing the piano. But she suffered from an unknown illness that caused her fingers to stiffen and that stunted her growth. When she no longer could play the piano, her mother suggested painting.

I love how the text shows Maud pivoting when her passion was no longer possible and immersing herself in a new passion. What a wonderful lesson for children who may not be able to pursue a sport or other endeavor because of physical limitations.

When Maud reached adulthood, she faced even more challenges until she eventually met and lived in the home of a poor fishmonger. There Maud painted on the walls, doors, furnishings, and windows of the house, and she also created small paintings that she sold to passersby.

Unlike the subjects of many picture book biographies, Maud never achieved material success during her lifetime, nor was she even regionally famous for her art. Perhaps because she wasn’t a famous artist, perhaps because she overcame obstacles and still seemed happy, or perhaps because she remained child-sized throughout her lifetime, I think that children will relate to her story. That her artwork has a childlike exuberance and lacks the polish of a trained artist will appeal to children, too. Soloy’s illustrations, which showcase Maud’s art and capture its nature-filled and colorful beauty, make this a gorgeous book to share with children.

A Note about Craft:

When I saw the title of today’s Perfect Picture Book in a Nerdy Book Club blog post by the author, I was curious. Everyone knows that tulips bloom in springtime, not winter. But Maud painted what she liked and what she imagined, so tulips bloomed in her wintry scenes. And like a rare tulip that could survive a wintry storm, Maud overcame adversity. What a great title to capture her sense of whimsy and perseverance and to pique the curiosity of readers.

This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!