by Priscilla Pardini
Illustrated by Joanne Scholler Bowring
4 stars
I’ve lived in Milwaukee for over 10 years and while I’ve heard the name Betty Brinn plenty of times, I didn’t really know anything about her. This was such a great biography to correct that.
The book is quite text-heavy but I found the story interesting and engaging. It focuses a lot on Brinn’s childhood and how it inspired her in her work as an adult. It also provides a fascinating look at orphanages and foster care during the 1940s.
Lovely watercolor illustrations pair well with the text. I especially loved the watercolor maps of the Milwaukee County Children’s Home and the Stinson Farm on the endpapers.
A lovely biography of a passionate businesswoman and philanthropist.