Aurélia Fronty
Born in France in 1973 Aurélia Fronty, illustrator of The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees, knew from an early age that she wanted to be an artist. She was brought up in an artistic environment where she was forever drawing, painting and creating. She went on to study at the Duperré School of Art, majoring in textile design.
After graduating, she worked for famous French fashion houses, including Christian Lacroix and Fragonard, while continuing to design, illustrate and exhibit her own work. She has always been a keen traveller and has taken many trips across Africa and Asia that have inspired and influenced her art. Her artwork is instantly recognisable for its style and vibrant colours. She mainly uses acrylic paint on card. Aurélia has illustrated over 40 books, posters and prints for children.
In 2015 The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees was published. It tells the story of Wangari Maathai who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her efforts to lead women in a nonviolent struggle to bring peace and democracy to Africa through its reforestation. Her organization planted over thirty million trees in thirty years.
- Children's Africana Book Awards Best Book for Young Children
- ILA Teacher’s Choices Reading List
- Booklist Top Ten Biographies for Youth
Praise for Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees
The writing is artful, clear, and concise, with references to Maathai's native Swahili language and the cultural connections to the environment... Fronty's art shines bright, expanding the text with styles that echo Henri Rousseau, Henri Matisse, and others.
