Last fall I compiled a list of a few of my favorite artful books for children, which accompanied an interview with Jean of the Artful Parent.
This spring, several new and new-to-us books about art have come through our door, and I thought I'd share them with you. The books seem to fall into three general categories: non-fiction books about artists and their techniques, materials and goals; books about color; and fictional works that incorporate real artists. You will notice that all of these books deal with European (and some American) artists. This does not represent a personal bias; I'm just showing you what we have received as gifts or found easily in a library. I am now on a mission to find books for children with art from the rest of the world!
Nonfiction books about artists and their techniques, materials, & goals
These vintage books by Ernest Raboff feature color reproductions of great art; discussions of what the artist is trying to communicate and how he or she does it, and biographical information. Hand-lettering and an intimate tone make these books feel friendly and accessible, even for a kindergartener. We really like these and would love to have more in the extensive series.
These recent volumes are part of a series of books. I don't generally like any book to tell me what my child "should" or shouldn't know, but putting that aside, I think they are useful. High-quality reproductions on glossy paper, with timelines, a glossary, and suggested activities, these books try to do a bit of everything. Biography is central, with analysis of artwork in the sidebars. Written for kids in elementary school and up.
The Art Book for Children (Book One), published by Phaidon, also features large color reproductions of art, offers analysis, and asks a lot of questions of the reader about particular works of art. Performance art and conceptual art are included, and the book seems most interested in investigating ideas rather than detailing biography. The seemingly-clever choice to indent every other block of text irritated this conservative book designer. What was gained by such a trick? A minor point in an otherwise intriguing book, with a target audience of kids older than my own--maybe mid-level elementary school.
Books about color
A Book About Color came out last month; the author has written other well-received books about design which I have not yet read. My 6-year-old really likes this book; it covers things she already knows, like the primary and secondary colors, the color wheel, and the notion of complementary colors. It also covers value, saturation, and analogous colors, which she did not know. Sometimes the writing is imprecise, but the pictures carry the message nicely.
This is a lovely little volume with a selection of paintings by Renoir, which offers a way to talk about color, light and composition. Each painting is shown as a detail and then as a full-page work. The text consists of brief riffs that contain a bit of biography or a thoughtful question about mood or intention. Both my 2-year-old and my 6-year-old love this book.
Red Sings from Treetops is a collection of verse and mixed-media artwork that explores color through the seasons. The book feels inventive and fresh, with bits of synesthesia and whimsical imaginings; the art is lush. The typography almost ruined the visual experience of the book, alas: who thought it would be a good idea to put a colored box around some of the "color" words? We've already gotten the message that color matters in this book--but if one overlooks the typography, it's a beautiful book.
Fictional books that incorporate real artists
Joan Yolleck imagines how artists passed their day before convening in the evening at Gertrude Stein's residence; the story presents an engaging suggestion of what life might have been like for seminal artists and writers such as Stein, Toklas, Picasso, Apollinaire, and Max Jacob. The art in this book sings; Marjorie Priceman uses vivid colors and dynamic perspective to create an appealing world. This book would be fun to read in conjunction with a child's ongoing studies about early 20th century art and literature.
Melissa Sweet's delicate watercolors illustrate the fictitious adventures of Charlotte, a young girl living with her family in France. Charlotte's father is studying painting, and along the way Charlotte learns intriguing details about artists in his circle, including Manet, Monet and Cassat. Vintage photographs, a recipe, maps, and French vocabulary add to the book's appeal. I will confess that I found the text a teeny bit tedious, but it appears I am in the minority. The book seems suited for children in elementary school and up--my kindergartener enjoyed the images but had trouble keeping track of who was whom.
A lost tutu sends a young dancer on a search through the streets of Paris to find Monsieur Degas, who has been painting the ballerinas at rehearsal. She has his rucksack with tubes of paint--he must have the bag with her tutu. Along the way she meets other artists, including Cassat, Renoir, Monet and Caillebotte, and learns a bit about their work. The art in this book is soft and pretty, while managing to evoke the paintings of its more famous subjects. My daughter was charmed by the story.
I hope you find something interesting in this list for the young artists in your life. If you have any suggestions for other books, please leave a note in the comments!
