Grant Wood The artist in the hayloft

Gr. 2-4. It's surprising that there are so few resources for children about Grant Wood, an artist whose style is realistic and approachable and whose subjects bring American history close. This title in the Adventures in Art series introduces the Iowa painter, pairing brief, interactive text with large color reproductions of his artwork. Younger children may respond to direct invitations to count objects, such as windmills, in an image. Older ones may enjoy finding hints of humor and social commentary in the paintings. A few readers may find the tone occasionally off-putting in its reach for a young audience: With a few scrap bits of metal . . . he could make art out of things that would make you say ouch! The reproductions, however, some of which are accompanied by a preliminary sketch, are clear and bright, and the biographical information is mostly well presented. Teachers can use this as a springboard for discussions and projects about the ways that artists honor their roots. A full list of featured works closes. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2005 Booklist

This attractively designed look at Wood's life and work goes beyond American Gothic to consider Wood's many other portrayals of ordinary Midwestern people and landscapes. More suitable for casual browsing than for serious research, the book contains large full-color reproductions, often printed alongside preliminary drawings, that provide readers with a good sense of Wood's processes, style, and techniques. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.