The Blue Rider: The Yellow Cow Sees the World in Blue (Adventures in Art) [Hardcover]

Doris Kutschbach (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The painters of the "Blue Rider" turned the worlds of form and colour upside down to give expression to their feelings, ideas and dreams. Their cows were yellow, people were green, trees red and horses blue. This is one book in the series "Adventures in Art" which is aimed at the young and the young at heart. It takes us on a voyage of discovery, exploring the world of art and showing us how to look at pictures in a relaxed, light-hearted way. Aiming to open up the world of art to children of all ages everywhere, these books present famous artists and their works in a way that should stimulate our own creativity.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 3 Up--Koja and Miksovsky begin with Monet's early years in Le Havre and move through his life and art in straightforward, chronological order. Drawings, paintings, and photographs enliven the text. Kutschbach's focus is on a group of artists who only came together for a short time, although their influence has lasted much longer. Here, the layout bounces and swirls on the page, with the text changing color, direction, and style. This sometimes makes the narrative difficult to follow. While Klee and Kandinsky are well known artists in this group, the book also brings in the women who were part of the movement. It is a wonderful group to explore. Children should relish learning about artists who freed color and form from reality to intensify its expressive power. One unifying feature of both books is the excellent color reproductions of the artwork. These books are very different, but both will be welcome additions to art collections.

Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library

Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

Words are thrown across the printed page as Kandinsky expressed his art in bright and unexpected colors. This book offers many idea to discuss with children. -- The Bookseller

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Publishing (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 379131811X
• ISBN-13: 978-3791318110
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #848,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > German Expressionism

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ride with The Blue Riders into the Enchantment of Painting!, August 29, 2000

By 

Jeannie McDermott, formerly head of children'... (Roeland Park, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blue Rider: The Yellow Cow Sees the World in Blue (Adventures in Art) (Hardcover)

What better way to introduce children to art than through the paintings of The Blue Riders, a group of painters that included Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. The exciting story of these painters is illustrated with their bright and glorious paintings and photographs of the artists at work and play. Paintings are broken down into smaller pictures to help the reader understand recurrent themes and to pull one into the detail of each painting. Also included is an enchanting collection of hand-painted postcards from Franz Marc to Kandinsky with excerpts from his messages. Reading the text and savoring the paintings, I came away inspired and thrilled by such fun and colorful works of art. I couldn't wait to get out my paint set! I think children will feel the same.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sensory pleasure, February 28, 2006

By 

Marian F. Grant (Spring Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Blue Rider: The Yellow Cow Sees the World in Blue (Adventures in Art) (Hardcover)

As a long time admirer of Marc, Klee and Kandinsky this charming book is a visit with old friends. The colors are beautiful. Although suitable to be read aloud to a young child it is equally a delight to an adult.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spirit of Color, December 30, 2011

By 

Ms Kristin M Earnst - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Blue Rider: The Yellow Cow Sees the World in Blue (Adventures in Art) (Hardcover)

The artists affiliated under the name "Der Blaue Reiter" (Alexej Jawlensky, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, August Macke, Franz Marc, Gabriele Munter, and Marianne von Werefkin), used color with expressionistic and symbolic meaning that readily appeals to children. Animals, people, landscapes, as well as abstract subjects, are rendered with vibrant non-representational color and energetic brushwork that affirms children's own expressive artistic impulses. The text combines historical details of the artistic friendship that united these artists with lively explorations of and comparisons between several of their art works (presented in excellent reproductions). Prestel's Adventures in Art series forms the heart of my classroom art library because of their beautiful reproductions, but the texts are of varying quality. The best in the series are this one, I Wish I Didn't Have to Sleep (Keith Haring), Animal Dreams (Paul Klee), Dreaming Pictures (Paul Klee), A Day in Japan with Hokusai, Visiting Vincent van Gogh, Artist in the Desert (O'Keeffe), Gustav Klimt: Silver, Gold, and Precious Stones, A Day with Picasso, Frida Kahlo: The Artist in the Blue House, and Cut-Out Fun with Matisse.