Art Is...

I have been looking for simple books to introduce my preschooler to Art (with a capital A). Most kids in preschool have plenty of opportunities to express their creativity in craft projects, but explaining "Art" to a child is daunting. This book is a fantastic starting point. It features brief, rhyming statements about what "Art is." Each page features a different form of visual art from sculpture to painting to textiles to folk art to architecture to monumental pieces. Styles range all over the map, and many examples are by well-known artists. They have chosen pieces that are eye-catching for a toddler or young child. My son is 4 and actually resisted looking at the book at first because of the very "grown up" looking cover, but once he saw the first page with the op-art piece "Fall," he was hooked. This is a wonderful picture book, best read aloud by an enthusiastic parent or caregiver. I love that it shows a wide range of art forms. It can help expand a child's horizons and encourage exploration and creativity. In addition to being a good discussion starter, the book can be the basis for games like looking for art in the places you visit and in the books you read. Best of all, it's a lot of fun to read.