Dragonflies of Glass: The Story of Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls

Glass designer Clara Driscoll (1861–1944) dazzles in this illuminating story about her pivotal role in creating some of Tiffany Glass Company’s most iconic pieces. Beginning with the protagonist’s love of nature in her Ohio childhood, the book leaps swiftly ahead to her move to New York City, where she studies at the Metropolitan Museum Art School, then is hired by Louis Comfort Tiffany on the basis of her floral sketches. Bringing Driscoll’s voice into the story with quotations from her letters, Goldman Rubin’s text-heavy pages also delve vividly into the process of making intricate glass art. Chapman balances the in-depth storytelling with saturated watercolor, gouache, and cut paper illustrations have a glimmering quality reminiscent of creations of the “Tiffany Girls.” As the subject’s career takes off, a brief parallel visual story unfolds along the bottom of the page, underscoring the role that memories of home inspired Driscoll’s creative process. Driscoll appeals as a fascinating figure in this immersive historical read. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Back matter includes author and artist notes and resources. Ages 6–9. (Feb.)