PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY REVIEW: Making Light Bloom by Sandra Nickel & Julie Paschkis

 

MAKING LIGHT BLOOM:

Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps

written by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Peachtree, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-68263-609-1

Source: Blue Slip Media & publisher

Ages 7-10

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The untold story of Clara Driscoll, a nature lover with the mind of a creative innovator and the unsung genius who designed and engineered the iconic Tiffany lamp

Drawing inspiration from her childhood gardens, Clara Driscoll created designs for Louis C. Tiffany's stained glass windows. Clara had such a flare for glass that Tiffany put her in charge of a special workroom, staffed with women—called the Tiffany Girls. But Clara wanted more. She wanted to create a three-dimensional work that would make light bloom. So she figured out how to engineer a lamp—how to shape and bend glass and light it so that her designs sprung to colorful, vivid life.

Today, we all recognize Tiffany lamps, but we almost forgot the woman who created them. Extensive back matter features more information about Clara Driscoll, her letters, and her design and manufacturing process, as well as bibliography and sources.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Sandra Nickel is an award-winning author of picture books and has two new books coming out in Spring 2025: Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon, an uplifting tale that celebrates differences, and Making Light Bloom, Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps, where Sandra continues her mission to celebrate extraordinary individuals who have been nearly forgotten by history.

Sandra holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and has presented workshops throughout Europe and the United States. She is honored to be the winner of a Christopher Award, the winner of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award, a finalist for the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection honoree, and a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended author. To learn more about Sandra, and to download free curriculum materials and activity sheets, visit sandranickel.com.

Julie Paschkis is an award-winning illustrator of more than 25 books for children. A graduate of Cornell University and the School for American Craftsmen at RIT, she taught art to grade school children for a number of years before turning her full attention to painting, textile design, and creating illustrations for her books.

REVIEW

Clara Driscoll created the first Tiffany lamp but didn't receive recognition for it until years later. Nickel tells Clara's story and how she designed and supervised the creation of the first lamp with a shade made of mixed glass. Not only is the story a reminder of the power creativity but the value of courage when facing opposition. Clara moved to New York City to find a job to help support herself and her family. After getting a job with renowned glassmaker Louis C. Tiffany, Clara found a way to use her love of nature and artistic ideas. Her skill led Louis to put her in charge of the entire women's workshop. Later, she was inspired by her memories of her home garden to design the lamp that Louis took to the World's Fair where it won the bronze medal. Louis continued to support Clara's efforts even when the men in the shop complained and wanted to get rid of the women. Yet Clara did not receive recognition for the lamps until long after her death when letters she wrote to her sister came to light. Paschkis's lovely art beautifully complements this story of art and invention by looking like the glass art it is meant to depict. The bright colors pop off the page with dark outlines. An author's note in the back matter explains more about Clara and the Tiffany lamps. A selected bibliography and quote citations finish up the back matter. Recommended.