Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club [Hardcover]

Niki Daly (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Fifth-grader Bettina Valentino couldn’t be a bigger fan of the funky new art teacher at Bayside Prep, who walks around barefoot to soak up the energy of the earth and is full of inspiring lessons about how art can be used to challenge, shock, and surprise. But when the teacher’s unconventional methods get him into trouble with some influential parents, it’s up to Bettina and some of her art-loving friends to nip the controversy in the bud and support freedom of artistic expression.

In his first chapter book, Niki Daly gives readers a quick-paced, profusely illustrated story about a boisterous heroine – as well as tidbits about famous artists such as Picasso, Klee, and Warhol.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–6—Bettina Valentino is in love with "Mr. Popart," the eccentric new teacher at Bayside Prep who instills a love of art in Bettina and her fifth-grade classmates. He shows how art can be used to challenge, shock, and surprise by discussing graffiti, Dadaism, Cubism, and Pop Art. He encourages them to see everyday life in new and different ways. Bettina and her friends start a Picasso Club, and they meet to work on their entries for a competition. Mr. Popart hosts an informal Dada exhibition for parents, leading to some humorous moments. One boy's doggie-doo creation becomes attached to Maxine's mom's shoe, and she also drinks from another artist's display featuring genuine spit. When Mr. Popart shows a book of Matisse nudes to Maxine and she makes a fuss, her influential parents cause trouble for him with the school. It is up to Bettina and her friends to figure out how to turn this mess into a masterpiece. Whimsical black-and-white spot art graces most of the pages. With tidbits about famous artists, this is a quick-paced, entertaining book about the power of art.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Not many middle-grade heroines seem like they’re going to bounce off the pages, but they’re not Bettina Valentino. Veteran author and illustrator Daly lets this art-loving firecracker introduce herself: “Hellooo! Yes, you! You, holding this book. Are you reading me? Cool!” In her unique voice, Bettina presents Bayside Prep’s fabulous new art teacher, nicknamed Mr. Popart (he smiles, she falls in love). But beyond her crush, Bettina, a budding artist, is thrilled at the way her teacher gets kids to think about art and to look at it, and not just any old art, but the unconventional works of masters like Picasso and Klee. Unfortunately, unconventionality is overrated, according to the overbearing Rattles, parents of the nasty Maxine, who feel that the school should get rid of Mr. Popart. Bettina has other ideas. If the story’s execution wasn’t delightful enough (it is), Daly provides wonderful ink-and-wash drawings, sometimes several to a page, that up the amusing ante. Not only are the cast’s eccentricities on full display, but Daly sometimes draws in the styles of famous artists, so readers get a real feel for their art. Like Bettina, this book has a certain je ne sais quoi. Grades 4-6. --Ilene Cooper

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (April 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374307539
• ISBN-13: 978-0374307530
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,365,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the Love of Art, August 25, 2009

By 

Erin Johnson "For the Love of Books" (Mankato, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club (Hardcover)

Bettina has a bit of a problem: she loves her new art teacher, but Maxine (who is apparently the spoiled-rich-child of the book) seems to want to get him fired. Maxine is also an all-around unpleasant young person, but that's another story...

Bettina is an eclectic young lady who spends her allowance on art camp in the summer and art supplies the rest of the year. She is a talented artist who is interested in various forms. And she loves Picasso. When a couple of assignments go awry because of Maxine's interventions, Bettina wants her parents to know that Mr. Popart did nothing wrong, and that they should do everything they can to keep him. While her parents agree with her, they try to make sure she understands that sometimes things just can't work out. Will it work out in Mr. Popart's favor, or will mean Maxine win the day?

Besides Bettina, Maxine and Mr. Popart, there are some fantastically unique and refreshing characters in this little book: Carmen-Daisy - Bettina's best friend who e-nun-ci-ates her words, Mumsie and Daddles (I love what she calls her parents!), Ditto (who has a surprising part in the story), and Mason and Leo (members of the Picasso club).

Notes on the Cover:
I love the abstract art that lines the top and sides of the book, it really adds to the story and the discussion of art that is in the book. I also love that Bettina is in her artist smock surrounded by the other members of the club. It's colorful, fun and eye-catching!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paint Up A Storm, May 14, 2009

By 

dream factory (Triangulum, M33) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club (Hardcover)

Most artists find their style and remain content within their particular personal niche. Maturing and exploring possibilities within their repetativeness. Chagall - Van Gogh - Bacon - Rothko. Great for them. Great for the art community.

Others find a solid personal style, guaranteed art immortality, yet discard it and forge ahead restlessly. Modrian - Pollack - Picasso. Literally changing the world!

What is it like to stand on the other side? At that moment of personal breakthrough. And how can these concepts be presented to our children?

The always heroic / flamboyant Niki Daly accomplishes what many an art instructor has tried in vain. Transcending from from keeping inside the lines to very abstract ideas. Like: "Two holes in a painting doesnt mean that its not still a work of art." "There's something special about art that includes accidents." Daly smoothly passages through the language of Modernism, Pop Art, Cubism, Expressionism while keeping a tight story line intact.

A beautiful story about a 5th grader discovering the possibilities of art. The progressive happenings in an art class and the lives of the classmates. And how art can be used to challenge, shock, and surprise.
A seriously cool book!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, July 1, 2009

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bettina Valentino and the Picasso Club (Hardcover)

Bettina Valentino thinks outside of the box when it comes to art, so no wonder her frustration grows as the art teacher at school continues to emphasize neatness and structure. That is, until Bayside Prep hires a new art teacher who defies conventions, inspires his students, and is utterly divine. Not only does Mr. Popart bring the best out of talented artists like Bettina, he even encourages a shy copy-cat named Ditto to come out of his shell and create some nifty computer art.

All is well until a rich set of parents demonstrate their intolerance of Mr. Popart's flamboyant style by threatening to withdraw their financial support for the school. Either Mr. Popart goes, or their money goes. Who will prevail makes for an interesting story that revolves around how people respond to incentives and how creativity knows no bounds.