Who Was Frida Kahlo?
By Sarah Fabiny
Illustrated by Jerry Hoare
Penguin Workshop
To Phyllis and Bob, thank you for everythingSF
For LynneJH
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Text copyright 2013 by Sarah Fabiny. Illustrations copyright 2013 by Jerry Hoare. Cover illustration copyright 2013 by Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. Published by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. PENGUIN and PENGUIN WORKSHOP are trademarks of Penguin Books Ltd. WHO HQ & Design is a registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC. Printed in the USA.
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013032704
Ebook ISBN 9780698159785
Version_2
Contents
Who Was
Frida Kahlo?
Viva la vida! In English that means Long live life! Frida Kahlo put these words into one of the last paintings she did. They were words that Frida kept in her head and in her heart throughout her life.
When she was only eighteen years old, Frida was involved in a terrible bus accident. Her injuries were very bad, and at first no one knew if she would survive. Frida had to stay in bed for months. Many of her bones were broken, and she was in a lot of pain. But Frida was a strong and stubborn person, and she was determined to get better.
At the time of the accident, Frida had been studying to become a doctor. She was smart and curious and loved school, but her injuries meant she was no longer able to go to classes. Bored by having to lie in bed while she recuperated, Frida asked her father if she could borrow his paints and paintbrushes. Frida created many paintings while she recovered. She soon realized that she didnt want to be a doctorshe wanted to be an artist.
The accident that caused Frida pain and suffering throughout her life also inspired her. By painting, Frida was able to get through the difficult times. She was a strong and courageous person who was determined never to stop telling the world Viva la vida!
Chapter 1
Little Frida
Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Caldern was born on July 6, 1907, in Coyoacn, Mexico. Her father was Guillermo Kahlo. He had immigrated to Mexico from Germany in 1891.
Her mother was Matilde Caldern y Gonzalez. She was Mexican, and her family was descended from American Indian and Spanish blood.
Frida was born at La Casa Azul (the Blue House), a house her father had built for his family in 1904. It was called the Blue House because the outside was painted a bright blue. The house would become an important part of Fridas life.
Fridas father had several jobs after he moved to Mexico. But when he married Fridas mother, she talked him into becoming a photographer, which was what her own father had been. As it turned out, Guillermo Kahlo was a very good photographer and was very successful. The Mexican government asked Mr. Kahlo to take photographs of the landscapes and historical buildings of Mexico. For about four years he traveled all over Mexico and took hundreds of photographs. Frida grew up looking at her fathers photographs. They helped her learn about Mexican history, art, and architecture.
But Frida wasnt just curious to learn about the history, art, and architecture of the country she was born in. She also wanted to learn about nature and science. Frida was always bringing home rocks, insects, plants, and even small animals. Fridas mother wasnt always happy to have bugs and frogs in the house, but her father thought this was fantastic. He wanted his daughter to learn as much as she could.
Frida had three sistersMatilde and Adriana, who were older, and Cristina, who was younger. But Frida was definitely her fathers favorite. He thought Frida was the smartest and the most like him.
Fridas father liked to paint when he wasnt busy taking photographs. He sometimes took Frida with him when he traveled to the countryside to paint. Frida would watch her father use his paints and brushes.
When Frida was six years old, she caught a serious disease called polio. Polio is a disease that affects the brain and spine, and it sometimes leaves people paralyzed. Frida survived polio, but it took a long time for her to get better. She had to stay in her room at the Blue House for almost nine months. It was hard for someone as curious and energetic as Frida to be stuck in bed. But Frida made up an imaginary friend to keep her company when she was alone.
Because of the polio, Fridas right leg became weak and thin. But her parents didnt want her to stop doing things because of her leg. She played soccer, wrestled, boxed, and was a champion swimmer. These were all things that girls didnt usually do in Mexico in the early 1900s.
Even with all the exercise, Fridas leg did not grow stronger. The kids in her neighborhood and at school teased her about her leg. They called her pata de palo , which means peg leg. Frida would yell back at them. She was determined not to let the nickname or her weak leg stop her.
As she got older, Frida wore pants, long dresses, and skirts to hide her leg. She also wore three or four pairs of socks and a special shoe. Frida didnt want anyone to know she was different, make fun of her, or feel sorry for her.
Chapter 2
A Show of Spirit
Even though Frida had missed a lot of school because of her illness, she was a good student and got good grades. Frida had a photographic memory, which meant she could picture something in her head after she had seen or read it. It was also easy for Frida to learn languages, and she was able to read and speak Spanish, English, and German. It was clear to Fridas parents that their daughter was very bright and loved to learn.
