Review by Booklist Review
This beautifully produced follow-up to The Art Book for Children (2005) follows a very similar format. Each double-page spread features a top-quality reproduction of an artwork, accompanied by simple text that will engage both young children and mature, independent readers. As in the previous title, the artworks represent a wide range of movements and time periods, from the Limbourg Brothers' beautiful, medieval illuminated manuscripts to Felix Gonzalez-Torres' 1991 installation, Untitled (Portrait of Ross in LA), composed of a brilliantly colored pile of wrapped hard candy. The brief words, printed in inventive typefaces, encourage viewers to imagine themselves in the scenes, to find objects in the compositions, or to reflect on the moods and activities depicted and in their own lives. This interactive approach creates a wonderful introduction to the history of Western art, and with open reminders such as Art doesn't have to be beautiful, the author invites children to look closely and freely at art and to value their own reactions. An appendix includes brief, specific facts about the artworks and artists.--Engberg, Gillian Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The Art Book for Children: Book Two by Amanda Renshaw challenges kids to ask questions about a wide range of famous art, from the ancient to the contemporary. For Raphael's The School of Athens, Renshaw queries, "Where is the teacher? What is everyone chattering about?" and later explains how "a ripe Camembert cheese" helped inspire the melting clocks in Dali's The Persistence of Memory. (Phaidon, $19.95 80p ages 8-up ISBN 9780-7148-4706-1; Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7- This follow-up to The Art Book for Children (Phaidon, 2005) is similar in size, format, and tone to that volume. Each spread contains sharp, full-color reproductions accompanied by four or five paragraphs discussing the different aspects of art suggested by the particular work. The book includes well-known classics, modern concept art, painting, and sculpture. Renshaw alternates modern and traditional art, but otherwise there is no real organization to the book. The tone is casual yet energetic and the text is both interesting and thought-provoking. It is not condescending, but is easily accessible to even a fairly young audience. Renshaw answers some questions about the artwork, and poses questions on every spread for readers to consider. In a discussion of Winslow Homer's Snap the Whip, she states, "We know the boy is moving-but how does the artist make him look as if he's moving when, of course, the picture is totally still?" Reading the book is something like walking through an art gallery with a really good docent. This is a great choice for schools and libraries.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This second eclectic collection of artwork encourages real involvement with the whole history of Western art, from Raphael and Seurat to Mangold and Moore. Arranged neither chronologically nor thematically, the large-scale reproductions and accompanying text encourage free exploration. Idiosyncratic commentary and thought-provoking open-ended questions will reassure readers that there is no wrong way to appreciate art. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
