Storybook Art: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of 100 Great Picture Book Illustrators

For all that is has a copyright date of 2003, the majority of these books referred are ridiculously OLD and obscure. I wouldn’t necessarily call a lot of the styles “great” — it might work for older kids (not so much preschool, and definitely not younger than that!) it just wasn’t what I was expecting.

Kohl has an amazing ability to take the essence of an illustrator and create a simple to organise and reproduce art activity. As your children grow through this book do look out for other books written by MaryAnn Kohl. They are incredible value for money.

"Storybook Art" is one of those keepers that can be used over and over again. And not necessarily for the art projects! As a retired English teacher and current children's librarian, I have held thousands and thousands of books in my hands. This book ranks up there in the very top echelon of most organized books. In fact, the lay-out of illustrators and organization of information is just incredible. But first, what this book is all about is the creation of art that goes beyond the book itself (on which the art is based) to show children (adults?) just how the illustrator/writer created the artwork so integral to the story. In other words this book contains "over 100 companion art activities matched to children's favorite picture books" (6). Some examples: Scratch board art based on Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are," a must-read classic. Illustrated music--Nancy Winslow Parker's art in "Oh, a Hunting We Will Go" Tankas to go with Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach" Friendship Stick (a likely to-be-treasured keeper) based on the classic "May I Bring a Friend" by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers Color Outline--Molly Bang's "When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry" The variety of art projects is almost mind-bogling, just as the illustrations on which they are based. Now the amazing organization. The art is group into four broad categories for projects: paint, draw, cut/collage, and craft/construction with artists in each presented alphabetically. The Chart of Contents in the front of the book provides this information. Also included is the birth dates of each illustrator. Just as teachers have little parties for each child as his/her birthday arrives, so too can the class recognize the illustrator's birthday (which many teachers already do for authors). However, it is Chapter 5: Resource Guide and Index, which is so fabulous. Here is what the reader will find: Author/Illustrator Information and Biographic Websites Publisher Websites Resource Books--Illustrators and Authors or Picture Books (just a short but handy list) Illustrator Websites (worth the price of the book!!!) Picture Book Publishers and ISBN numbers of books in this volume Quotes and Cites (a quote is used by each illustrator--this shows its source) Picture Book Awards Illustrator Index Author Index Picture Book Index Art Activity Index Easy Index Art Activity--Page Order Index Storybook Art Illustrators Hall of Fame (with thumbnail photos) Bright Ideas Bookshelf (other titles in this series of books about art across the curriculum) What a dazzling array of books, illustrations, artists, writers, publishers, art activities. Oh my!

Kids favorite books inspire easy art activities for kids. Excellent. I've found that when the kids do art projects that relate to their favorite picture books, they like their books more and want to read them more closely, and more often. They become finely tuned to the illustrations, and certainly this is an inspiration to create their own art. I've got some favorites in this book. One of them is based on Marshmallow the Bunny, where kids try their hand at charcoal drawing. Of course there's an Eric Carle collage from painted paper. And another favorite is Watercolor Snow Collage based on Ezra Jack Keats' "The Snowy Day". Really pretty but still open ended for kids to feel expression of their own. One of the most intriguing projects is one using simple photos the kids take, yes little kids can take pictures!!!, is based on Dare Wright's photography books with her little doll, Edith, and the doll's companion, Mr. Bear. Kids set up scenes with their toys and take digital pictures of them, then print out and tell stories. I did this with some kindergarteners and it was extremely successful. They want to do it all the time. So, why not? If they want to learn to read from their own little picture photo stories, who am I to say no? : ) Excellent for teachers and inspirational for kids.

I travel around the country working with childcare people and early childhood teachers (young kids through grade three). They seem to love this book, with its connection to favorite picture books. When kids do art that is in the style or technique of the illustrator, they are more tuned in to the book when they read it again, and they are definitely more tuned in to illustrations in all books. If you value the art of books, so will kids. I'm very happy that educators see the impact art can have on literacy.

I don't know when I've been so excited about a book of hands-on art ideas for kids!! Favorite picture book illustrators are featured in this book for kids age 4-12...with art ideas to match the illustrators' styles and award-winning titles. Each page has a child-drawn portrait of the illustrator, synopses of the book, quote by the illustrator, easy to follow steps and materials, a great variations. Some of the books and illustrators covered are:- Storybook Art Includes -Clare Beaton-How Big is a Pig?.....Stitching TimePatrick Benson-Owl Babies.....Cross-Hatch & StippleMarvin Bileck-Rain Makes Applesauce.....Fancy WordsJan Brett-Goldilocks & The 3 Bears.....Behind-the-SceneDavid Diaz-Smoky Night.....Collage StoryLois Ehlert-Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.....Letter ColléEd Emberley-Drummer Hoff.....Bold MarkingIan Falconer-Olivia.....Piglet PaintingWanda Gág-Millions of Cats.....Cat & MouseMort Gerberg-More Spaghetti I Say.....Silly SpaghettiClement Hurd-Good Night Moon.....Shoebox BedroomEzra Jack Keats-The Snowy Day.....Snow CollageDavid Kirk-Miss Spider's Tea Party.....Clay Tea SetLeo Lionni-Fish is Fish.....Rub & Cut SceneRobert McCloskey-Blueberries for Sal.....Blue FingerdotsMira Reisberg-Baby Rattlesnake .....Snake Pattern Faith Ringgold-Tar Beach.....TankasJohn Schoenherr-Owl Moon.....Winter StencilMaurice Sendak-Where the Wild Things Are.....Scratch-ColorDr. Seuss-The Cat in the Hat.....Kid in a HatCharles Shaw-It Looked Like Spilt Milk.....Cream CloudsChris Van Allsburg-The Polar Express.....Lights & Snow plus 78 more Great Illustrators of Favorite Picture Books!You won't believe the resource chapter with illustrators' websites and lists and more lists and awards and birthdays of illustrators and so on.I especially like all the kids' artworks on the cover and throughout the book. I am sure you will enjoy this one!!!! It's something special.