The Art Book for Children [Hardcover]

Editors of Phaidon Press (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005 | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Art Book for Children (Book 1)

A perfect introduction to art for children everywhere, The Art Book, Children’s Edition brings the clarity and innovation of Phaidon’s best-selling The Art Book to our youngest readers ever. An A to Z guide of 30 great artists – each featured on a double-page spread – and their most famous works designed for both parent and child to enjoy together. The book encourages the children to look closely at the featured works and use their imagination to understand why artists choose to create the pieces they do and in the ways that they do.

From Leonardo’s Renaissance masterpiece Mona Lisa to Andy Warhol’s iconic Marilyn, from Jeff Koons’ exuberant, flower-encrusted Puppy to Botticelli’s beautiful, flower-strewn Primavera, 30 works have been selected from The Art Book especially for this edition, chosen for their vital importance in art history as well as their appeal to children.

The giants of art history – Van Gogh, Matisse, Rembrandt, Turner and Velázquez – are all here, but this edition also offers its readers an introduction to challenging, recent artists including Cindy Sherman and Donald Judd. The Art Book, Children’s Edition makes this broad, exciting selection of 30 key works across the history of art clear and accessible to children from age seven and upwards, but will be of interest to readers of all ages.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–Large color reproductions expose readers to a wide variety of art, from the best-known paintings of the 14th and 15th centuries to contemporary photographs and wrap art. European, Asian, and American art is included in the more than 30 discussed works. Illustrations are arranged to fill single pages, spreads, and small squares. The text, at times calligraphic, becomes part of the art as it invites viewers to take more than a cursory look. Questions encourage readers to observe details, while statements of opinion help to provoke new thoughts and elicit emotional responses to the pieces. Because the book is not arranged by chronology, medium, or style, readers have the option to skip around, to pick and choose the works to study–much like visiting favorite paintings in a museum. A concluding section gives the size, location, and dates of the works and the artists birth and death dates. The book will stimulate discussion and a higher level of appreciation of art.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Art critic and Phaidon editor, Ruggi offers an excellent, accessible introduction to art that speaks directly to children without condescension. A wide range of artists, from the Renaissance to today, is represented, and each spread features a large color reproduction of a famous work. Interactive questions and simple observations invite children to consider the artists' decisions and connect what is pictured to their own experience. Next to portraits by photographer Cindy Sherman, who takes on a new identity in each image, Ruggi asks, "When you dress up . . . do you also change the way you behave?" Explanations of artistic movements are clear and direct, as in Ruggi's notes about op artist Bridget Riley: "She's not interested in what we see, but in how we see it." She even shares opinions: "I think van Eyck was showing off a little in this picture." Children will come away with a broader sense of art history as well as new confidence to connect with art on their own terms. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714845302
• ISBN-13: 978-0714845302
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 10.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Art > History

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 95 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars We LOVE this book! January 2, 2006

By L. M. Barnes

Format:Hardcover

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%!

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!! January 18, 2006

By Skip Wild Harrington

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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!

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Art for Kids October 10, 2006

By Tim Witort

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.