Works of Art
Books on art and artists to intrigue and inspire
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 1/1/2007
Brighten up dreary winter days with a rainbow of recent artistic picture books that spark the imagination and encourage kids to get in touch with their inner artists, an ideal option for enhancing your toy store's arts and crafts section. Best of all, three of the selections shown here are part of larger book collections about famous artists, with each series appropriate for a different age range of kids.
David Domeniconi's comprehensive and engaging M is for Masterpiece, illustrated by the award-winning Will Bullas, is packed with facts on art and artists spanning centuries, alongside an alphabet's worth of short rhymes. Includes cave painting, brushwork, stone statuary, block prints, weaving, architecture, watercolors, bronzework and photography, plus background on at least a dozen famous artists. ($17.95) Sleeping Bear Press, Chelsea, Mich.
In Quiet Time with Cassatt, the latest offering in Julie Merberg's popular Mini Masters board books series illustrated by Suzanne Bober, readers are presented with Cassat's beautiful paintings of kids and families with sweetly rhyming text. The series also offers equally appealing titles on Picasso, Matisse, Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir and Seurat. ($6.95) Chronicle Books, San Francisco
In Mélanie Watt's poignant Augustine, a shy little penguin must start a new school when her family moves. Fortunately, her love of drawing—inspired by her namesake Pierre-Auguste Renoir as well as Magritte, Mondrian, Dali and others—helps her make friends. The charming illustrations show more than a dozen famous paintings reinterpreted in the titular character's simplified style. ($16.95) Kids Can Press, Tonawando, N.Y.
Make Van Gogh's Bed, one of four titles in Julie Appel's unique new Touch the Art series illustrated by Amy Guglielmo, is a humorous, 3-D approach to fine art that lets kids jump inside famous paintings and interact with their subjects. Each spread includes something to stroke, pat, pull or play with, as well as fast facts on each of the paintings and the artist who created them. ($9.95) Sterling Publishing, New York
In Pamela Geiger Stephens' delightful Dropping in on Picasso—part of her series that includes Warhol, Matisse, Rousseau and Wood—readers take a journey right to Picasso's studio to learn all about his Blue Period, Rose Period, Cubism, sculpture and self-portraits. Picasso's actual artwork appears alongside whimsical illustrations by Jim McNeill. Animated companion videos are also available. ($15.95) Crystal Productions, Glenview, Ill.
Susan Goldman Rubin's Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter introduces readers to a complicated, revolutionary artist in an accessible, kid-friendly way through photographs of the Pop Art master plus a focus on his popular paintings and those of the artists who influenced him (rather than on his film career or notorious personal life.) Includes a timeline, glossary and resource list. ($18.95) Abrams Books for Young Readers, New York
