A dynamic-in-every-way introduction to the life and work of artist Chuck Close features Close responding to questions asked by children, beginning with “How did you get to be such a great artist?” Close talks about being severely learning disabled as a child, at a time when little was known about learning disabilities. But he could draw, and art became his salvation. Known best for his huge, wall-sized portraits, including many self-portraits, Close gives readers insight into his choice of subjects, his painting technique, and the impact of what he calls the “Event”—the collapse of a blood vessel in his spine that has left him paralyzed from the chest down since 1988. A wonderful balance of text and photographs, the book’s centerpiece is a dazzling display of fourteen of Close’s self-portraits using different media. Twelve of them have been divided into triptychs, so that readers can flip back and forth, combining perfectly matched sections into a portrait comprised of three different paintings. An engaging visual timeline, source material for more information, and a glossary of artists’ terms complete this wholly unique work. (Age 8 and older)