Frida Kahlo’s life and art continue to fascinate us to this day. Her deeply personal paintings offer a window into her thoughts and reflect key events in her life. An artist and activist who battled with personal illness and tragedy, Frida’s life story is as compelling as her artwork. The books below are a perfect introduction to her works and life. These range from illustrated biographies to a deeper dive into some of her most notable works.
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Portrait of An Artist: Frida Kahlo
by Lucy Brownridge (Author), Sandra Dieckmann (Illustrator)
Review: Portrait of An Artist: Frida Kahlo provides beginning readers with a super introduction to Frida. Using child-friendly language, Lucy Brownridge shows readers how Frida used colour to reflect her moods and feelings in her paintings. For example, she used bright colours in her works when she was in a good mood. Conversely, when she felt sad she used darker colours. Sandra Dieckmann’s illustrations fit perfectly with Brownridge’s narrative and Frida’s painting style. At the back of the book, a “What’s in the masterpiece?” section reproduces the works that feature in the text, explaining what is significant about them.
Suggested Reading Age: 5 to 7 years.
V & A Introduces: Frida Kahlo
by V & A
Review: One of the V & A Introduces series, this book by the Victoria and Albert museum introduces readers to the many sides of Frida Kahlo. Its informative contents showcase Frida the artist, writer, activist and icon. Stylized drawings and vibrant colours attract the readers’ eyes as they are introduced to Frida’s fashion and her paintings. Significant events, places and people such as her accident, the blue house and Diego Rivera also feature. Just right for whetting the appetite to learn more, this short book (32 pages) provides a perfect first look at Frida.
Suggested Reading Age: 7 to 9 years old.
Frida Kahlo: The Artist In The Blue House
by Magdalena Holzhey
Review: Frida Kahlo: The Artist In The Blue House makes for inviting reading. Magdalena Holzhey presents Frida’s life and paintings in an appealing way. The book is full of photographs and large size images of Frida’s paintings. Throughout, intentional use of font size and colour draw the eye to specific pieces of information or key questions. Written in an accessible, easy-to-understand manner, Frida’s paintings and their influences are clearly explained. Excerpts from her diary ensure that Frida’s voice is heard. A brief synopsis of her life at the end of the book gives readers an overview of some of the most significant events. This is well-worth adding to a school or home library.
Suggested Reading Age: 8 to 12 years old.
Find Frida
by Catherine Ingram (Author), Laura Callaghan (Illustrator)
Review: A clever way of telling about Frida’s life and influences, Find Frida will keep readers entertained for hours. Coming in at 40 pages, each double-page spread features a vibrant depiction of an event or significant influence on Frida. Packed full of characters, readers are tasked with spotting Frida in their midst as well as finding other significant figures of the day. These figures are introduced to readers by providing a brief insight into their link with Kahlo. Spreads include The Day of The Dead, Aztec Influences, Frida and Diego’s Wedding, Casa Azul (The Blue House) and The Tehuana Dress.
Suggested Reading Age: In my opinion, this would appeal to readers of all ages.
Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life
by María Hesse (Author), Achy Obejas (Translator)
Review: Translated from Spanish, Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life is a heartfelt biography. Written from a first-person perspective, this graphic novel truly brings Frida to life. María Hesse’s writing and illustrations artfully reflect Frida’s anguish and passions. From beginning to end this book is a visual treat, featuring stunning Frida-inspired end pages to representations of Kahlo’s works. Frida Kahlo: An Illustrated Life would make a wonderful present and a worthy addition to any library. Highly recommended.
Click here for the original Spanish edition.
Suggested Reading Age: Older teens & adults (there is some nudity in the pictures).
Frida Kahlo: The Masterworks
by Roxana Velásquez
Note: Whilst I have not seen inside this book, this appears to be a great option for older readers searching for a more in-depth take on Frida and her paintings.
Suggested Reading Age: Older teens & adults.
Happy Reading!
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Do YOU know any great books about Frida Kahlo to add to this list? If so, please leave a recommendation below .
loveee the post
Thank you, Erin. I’m glad you enjoyed it.