Preschool Art: It's the Process, Not the Product!

I'm SO surprised to see the negative reviews on this book. No, the projects are not elaborate, but the cover states "It's the process, not the product"...which should clue you in. I sort of see it as an art meets science type book. This is what happens when you squirt water on marker drawing...this is what happens when you draw with wet chalk...it's about exploring the creative process. I checked this out of my Parents as Teachers library, and liked it so much am now looking to buy it.

I was reading through the reviews on Preschool Art, and was VERY surprised to read a negative one. This book is like the basic manual for art all preschoolers [no wait, all KIDS] should do in their life times. If you also look at the variations and extensions, you will never run out of art for the rest of your child's life. BASIC? Well, certainly, some are basic -- but then, we've been around for years and years, and all these little kids are new to what we think of as basic. In fact, the first chapter is all about basic "must do" project ideas. Ok, if you're a fabulous successful artist, you don't need this book for YOU, but you might still need it for your kids. This book is very well organized, FUN, easy, and if you don't have the "extra materials" on hand (like ROCKS AND LEAVES, for goodness sake, go out with your kids and get them! That's the whole point of a book like this! Enjoy your children from the basic moments on up. Give them the gift of creative opportunities. Start basic and let them expland their imaginations and art expression from there. I vote 5 stars and then some.

I think I own most all of the preschool art/activity books on the market and this one is by far the best one. The main thing that sets this book apart is MaryAnn's Kohl's philosophy that it is the process not the product. The projects in this book focus on the experience that preschoolers get from doing the project, not creating a craft in the way that a grownup tells them to. Oftentimes, in the process of exploring the art materials the project takes a direction that is different from where the adult thought the project would go. The preschooler learns so much more from this type of art project than a pre determined craft project. All of the projects in this book are based on this philosophy and provide opportunites for open ended art exploration. The book is very well laid out and is easy to use. She has a basic section with alot of "classic" projects and then projects organized by month. I found this organization to work very well because each month I would look at the projects for that month Most of the projects use basic art materials and only a few projects require you to buy special items. Although a few of the projects are relatively basic, most of the projects listed take a different twist on a basic idea. For example, most parents/educators would have thought of fingerpainting, but most of us probably would not have thought of fingerpainting on a cookie sheet. Or most of us would think to give our kids crayons, but might not think to put a rubber band around a bundle of crayons and let them draw with the all of the crayons together. If you are a parent with preschool children at home and are looking for fun art ideas, then this book is a must have on your bookshelf.

I am not an artsy-craftsy person, but I am not going to let that stop me from getting my son's little paws deep in paint or covered in glue. This book is great for a beginner like me, but to say that its usefulness is limited to beginners is to sell it short. There are lots of great ideas here and many variations listed. Each of the almost 250 projects gets its own 8-1/2" by 11" page and has numerous line illustrations to clarify techniques and materials. The page is organized into a Materials list, a Process list, and Variations, and includes hints to make the project easier (such as cleanup tips or materials that can be reused). Icons on each page indicate the suggested age, how much time is needed to prepare ahead of time, whether or not extra assistance may be needed, whether or not caution is required (for sharp, hot or electrical materials), and whether it is one of the author's favorites, based on its being extra fun, extra fascinating, or extra easy and creative.The book would be great if that was all there was to it, but value has been added by the wonderful organization and indexing. First, the Table of Contents is organized into basic projects (like chalk drawing and watercolors), followed by seasonal projects. And the indexes at the back are great: first, the Project Index lists projects alphabetically; next, a Materials Index lists them by -- materials (so if you want to do something with buttermilk, for example, you can find a project easily); finally, an Art Medium Index categorizes projects by medium -- drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, collage, craft or construction. These indexes make it terribly easy to find just the right project you're looking for!In the Introduction the author discusses her philosophy of emphasizing process over product in children's art, and gives some advice on how to talk to your children about their projects. This book is an invaluable resource from cover to cover. I do not think you will ever regret purchasing this book. Very highly recommended.

If you read the variations and extensions in this book of some of the basic ideas, I think you will be THRILLED to find so many new ideas. As far as basic ideas, I need reminding of how vaulable they are for kids, and I love having reminders all in one big thick volume. This book is so well organized, you can give your other ones away. This is the only one you will need.