The Art Book for Children

My son found an awesome book at our local library that I plan to purchase and make part of our home library. And while this book is written for children, I have already learned a lot myself. I don't have much background in art and a class that I took in college on Art History left me scratching my head and unable to sort out the dozens of images I was shown with each class. But this book is a great find. The Art Book for Children is 80 pp long. Throughout the book you will find amazing art work as well as information ont he artist that composed it and questions for us to consider and things for us to look for in the art work. This book is very easy to understand and really gives you an opportunity to dip your feet into the world of art and find out that it isn't as intimidating as one may have thought! This is Book One, Book Two will be published in August 2007. So, whether you want this book for yourself or your children, you won't be disappointed with it!

This book presents an interesting an useful approach to the understanding of art for youngsters. The text for each illustration is written so as to satisfy an inquisitive young mind by asking questions. Details of a piece of art are fully explored, such as in Jan van Eyck's, "The Arnolfini Portrait," where the name of the person painted is given , his occupation, the types of clothes he is wearing, his wife and the details regarding her clothes, the dog, the foreground the background; in essence all aspects of the painting is fully explored for further discussion between the teacher or parent and student. Thirty different artists works and sttitudes are used in the book including such notables as Monet, Picasso, Miro, Wood, Warhol, Velasquez, Rousseau, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Van Gogh and others. None of the Mexican masters of art, like Rivera, Kahlo , Orozco or Rufino are included which is unfortuate. One of the highlights of the book is Albrect Altdorfer's "Battle of Alexander at Issus," that not only does an outstanding job of explaining the details but the painting has a second page that is a two page spread that shows in greater detail the fantastic piece of art. The leading questions are very helpful in a teaching setting. This helpful book serves as a good introduction to looking at art with a discernig eye and inquisitive mind. It is especially good for visual learners.

I purchased this book for my kids who were 6 and 10 at the time. I was pleasantly surprised by the scope and variety of art covered in this book. Several well-chosen (nothing gory or disturbing to children) pieces of art are presented in nice, full color reproductions. The authors then point out various interesting things about the piece and ask fun questions about it. All of this serves to help children not just "look" at art, but to enjoy it and appreciate it. I heartily recommend this book for anyone who wants to dabble in art appreciation - not just children. It is so easy to read and thumb through that neither kids nor adults will realize they are learning about art. For those over 16 or so who want to take the next step, "The Art Book" is a great follow-up that features many, many more works with more scholarly comments on each.

I bought this book for my grandchildren, a boy and a girl ages 2 1/2 and 5. Not only are they thrilled with it, their parents are enchanted. This book should be read by everyone! It's a marvelous primer and guide to the world of art, with pictures of some of the world's most famous art treasures and amazingly interesting explanations of why these particular pieces have endured. If you want your children or grandchildren to learn about what makes art relevant, this is the book for them! It should be sold in every art museum in the world. My grandchildren have several other books about art, but none is as erudite and entertaining as this. Trust me, your children will learn some wonderful stuff . . . and so will you. I can't recommend it highly enough. Fabulous!

I was slightly reluctant at first to purchase this book - I thought it might not be one of our son's favorites at bedtime (4 1/2 years old). (He's your typical boy - loves books about cars, tractors, dump trucks, etc) Boy, was I wrong! The first night we sat down to read it, we both had a blast! This book does such a nice job of explaining art to children, in terms that he understands, that he was excited about reading it the next night. We went through the book the first time just flipping pages to look at the artwork, and stopping to read the details of the ones he found interesting at first. It was fun for me as a parent to learn what he finds interesting in art. I would recommend this book 100%!