Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid

by Victoria Tentler-Krylov, Victoria Tentler-Krylov (Illustrator)

Overview

An inspiring picture book biography about British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, who was a pioneer in her field against all odds, told by debut author-illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov.

The city of Baghdad was full of thinkers, artists, and scientists, the littlest among them Zaha Hadid. Zaha knew from a young age that she wanted to be an architect. She set goals for herself and followed them against all odds. A woman in a man's world, and a person of color in a white field, Zaha was met with resistance at every turn. When critics called her a diva and claimed her ideas were unbuildable, she didn't let their judgments stop her from setting goals and achieving them one by one, finding innovative ways to build projects that became famous the world over. She persisted, she followed her dreams, and she succeeded.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338282832
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/01/2020
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	179,465
Product dimensions:	9.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Debut author-illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov is herself a practicing architect. She says of her inspiration, "My art explores children's fantasies in a painterly way. And, much as children love to do, so my illustrations also tend to shift between the real and the imagined worlds." She lives in Boston. Visit her online at cargocollective.com/victoriakrylov.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Building Zaha:

* "With fittingly bold, whimsical, flowing illustrations, this picture-book biography showcases Iraqi British architect Zaha Hadid, who 'dreamed big and defied convention.' The illustrations exude energy and power [in this] stirring tribute to the 'first woman, first Iraqi, first Muslim, and youngest person ever' to win the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest award."

— Horn Book, starred review

* "As an architect, Tentler-Krylov brings an abundance of understanding to her subject’s profession and the obstacles she faced. And by helping readers imagine the challenges of designing a building, she enables them to appreciate Hadid's process and achievements. Text and art work well together in portraying her forceful, flamboyant personality, her strong determination, and her brilliant architectural designs. With fluid lines and vibrant watercolor washes, the well-composed double-page scenes vividly illustrate Hadid’s life and work. A memorable introduction to a visionary architect."

— Booklist, starred review

"An inspiring story based on a dazzlingly influential life."

— Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2020-09-29
Curious as a child, exploring mosques and palaces in Baghdad and wanting to create and construct the impossible, Zaha Hadid grew up to influence the field of architecture.

In Tentler-Krylov’s telling, young Hadid’s interests in construction sites and math grow as she ages, leading to her getting a math degree in college and moving to London, where she studies architecture. She spends hours studying and sketching. Although she makes a name for herself in England, the ever unconventional Hadid is not hired to design buildings, so she enters competitions. After some difficulty, one of her innovative designs becomes reality. Even when faced with obstacles and rejection, Hadid continues to defy form. Hadid dares to challenge the critics and meets negative feedback with determination and confidence, ultimately becoming the first woman to design an art museum in the United States and the youngest ever to win the prestigious Pritzker Prize. Tentler-Krylov’s brushy watercolor illustrations create movement on the page, highlighting Hadid’s unique tilting, swaying, and floating structures. Short paragraphs advance the narrative spread by spread, describing how her subject’s passion became her career. An architect herself, the author/illustrator provides an enthusiastic note explaining her interest in Hadid along with a timeline and a bibliography; quoted dialogue is unsourced, and a small note on the copyright page emphasizes that the book is historical fiction and not strict biography.

An inspiring story based on a dazzlingly influential life. (Picture book. 5-10)

Kirkus Reviews