Just Being Audrey
by Margaret Cardillo
Audrey Hepburn will long be remembered as an actress in such movies as My Fair Lady, (one of my personal favorites), Funny Face, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but what about the rest of her life? In Just Being Audrey, Margaret Cardillo introduces the reader to Ms. Hepburn’s behind-the scenes personality. I was vaguely aware that she was a supporter of UNICEF, but did not know the story behind that commitment, nor did I realize that she grew up in WWII war torn Europe. As a child, Audrey dreamed of being a ballerina, though she was considered too tall and gangly for such a career. Her mother’s advice “Others matter more than you” and “you must always be kind”, is advice that characterized Audrey Hepburn’s life. This picture book biography traces Audrey Hepburn’s life from childhood, through her appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador to UNICIF, to her death in 1993 and tells the impact she had on those who met her or watched her in the movies.
Audrey Hepburn will long be remembered as an actress in such movies as My Fair Lady, (one of my personal favorites), Funny Face, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but what about the rest of her life? In Just Being Audrey, Margaret Cardillo introduces the reader to Ms. Hepburn’s behind-the scenes personality. I was vaguely aware that she was a supporter of UNICEF, but did not know the story behind that commitment, nor did I realize that she grew up in WWII war torn Europe. As a child, Audrey dreamed of being a ballerina, though she was considered too tall and gangly for such a career. Her mother’s advice “Others matter more than you” and “you must always be kind”, is advice that characterized Audrey Hepburn’s life. This picture book biography traces Audrey Hepburn’s life from childhood, through her appointment as the Goodwill Ambassador to UNICIF, to her death in 1993 and tells the impact she had on those who met her or watched her in the movies.
This
is the first children’s book written by Cardillo, who was formerly a children’s
book editor in New York City. I enjoyed reading Just Being Audrey. Even though I was familiar with the actress, I
still learned a lot. I found the straight forward commentary to be both
educational and entertaining. This
picture book biography is a superb book to share with children who need good
role models to follow. The soft pastels created by Julia Denos capture the
personality and expressions perfectly. Her unique sense of style and influence
on fashion are portrayed in these detailed paintings. I consider this to be a
book well worth reading. It would be very useful for introducing the biography
genre. A timeline of Audrey Hepburn’s life and a bibliography are included at
the end of the book.
Source of Book Jacket: Library
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