March is Woman’s History Month and as much as I think we shouldn’t have to call out specific genders or races as a sort of reminder that other people besides white men live on this planet, I do want to praise accomplishments. I’m very much about shining the light on little-known people so they can get their due.

That’s why I chose to review HOW THE WEST WAS DRAWN: WOMEN’S ART by Linda L. Osmundson. It’s a non-fiction picture book depicting fourteen talented women artists who captured landscapes and the people of the American West during a time when women artists were overlooked.

Linda says it best in her introduction:

“Few people realize how many American women painters worked in the West around the turn of the twentieth century. They are most often familiar with Georgia O’Keeffe. However, women have painted the West for more than 150 years. Since art was not an acceptable career for women, they received little public attention. Some remained unknown because they didn’t sign their works. Sometimes they used an alias, initials, or a form of their husband’s name.”

Linda was a docent at four art museums (Phoenix Art Museum, Utah Museum of Fine Art, Denver Art Museum, and Seattle Art Museum) and two galleries (Hearst Gallery at St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA, and the Loveland Museum/Gallery in Colorado). She’s given hundreds of interactive tours for both children and adults and put her knowledge and experience to use in writing the HOW THE WEST WAS DRAWN series (Pelican Publishing Company).

In her WOMEN’S ART book, she sets up each segment of an artist with questions to get the reader to look more carefully at the art on the opposing page. Then in her one-page write up of the artist, she introduces readers to the artist’s technique, subject and personal background. Linda did an excellent job of showcasing different styles and mediums so that the reader ends the book with more knowledge of art in general. I’m also a big fan of endnotes when it comes to non-fiction books for kids so that curious minds can explore the topic even more. Linda includes more fascinating facts about women artists during this time.

One tiny criticism: The choice of art on the cover. I thought it would have been more fitting if the painting of the female Pueblo potter in the book titled Maria Martinez by Grace May Betts would have emphasized the woman theme of the book better.

Nonetheless, her book has won two awards so far. Western Writers of America presents the annual Spur and Spur Finalists awards for outstanding writing about the American West and HOW THE WEST WAS DRAWN: WOMEN’S ART won a finalist award in juvenile non-fiction.

The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Wrangler award honors works from literature, film, music, and television. They also induct individuals into the Hall of Great Westerners and Hall of Great Western Performers. Each honoree receives a bronze sculpture of a Wrangler on a horse. HOW THE WEST WAS DRAWN: WOMEN’S ART won the juvenile category for 2015. Congratulations, Linda!

If you are a young artist, an art teacher, a lover of museums, or a supporter of women, this book is a great read. Use it as a prompter to get kids interested in art and who knows? You might inspire another woman artist!

Pelican Publishing, 2014, $16.99 www.pelicanpub.com

GIVEAWAY: I will randomly select a winner to receive an autographed copy of Linda Osmundson's book, HOW THE WEST WAS DRAWN: WOMEN'S ART. To be eligible, leave a comment mentioning the book on my Facebook Page by noon March 31, 2015. I will then contact the winner and get their mailing address.