Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series) [Paperback]

Janis Herbert (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: For Kids series

The marriage of art and science is celebrated in this beautifully illustrated four-color biography and activity book. Kids will begin to understand the important discoveries that da Vinci made through inspiring activities like determining the launch angle of a catapult, sketching birds and other animals, creating a map, learning to look at a painting, and much more. Includes a glossary, bibliography, listing of pertinent museums and Web sites, a timeline, and many interesting sidebars.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-A lively biography of the ultimate Renaissance man. Herbert describes Leonardo's life while also providing a good deal of historical information about Italy and background about art. She explains how Leonardo used the artistic techniques and materials available during his lifetime, as well as his own unique ideas, to create masterpieces. However, youngsters will also gain insight into Leonardo as a scientist, inventor, and humanist. Presented for consideration are his detailed sketches of human anatomy (the first of their kind), maps drawn from a bird's-eye view, and designs for such things as diving suits and hang gliders that weren't invented until hundreds of years later. A few projects are also included. Youngsters can make a kite based on Leonardo's drawing of a parachute, cook up his favorite meal of minestrone soup, or grow a Renaissance herb garden. The high-quality reproductions of the artist's sketches and paintings coupled with an interesting text give readers a full picture of this truly amazing man. A list of related Web sites is included.
Michele Snyder, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Enthusiastically recommended." —Favorite Resources for Catholic Homeschoolers

"One of a series of terrific history-based activity books." —Home Education Magazine

"Beautifully illustrated...Can stimulate lesson plans and thematic units to engage and stimulate children throughout a long, hot summer."  —Texas Child Care

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556522983
• ISBN-13: 978-1556522987
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Art > History
  • #13 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Art
  • #22 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Science & Technology

More About the Author

I love history! And I hope my books will inspire kids to feel the same way. Find out more about me and my award-winning books at www.janisherbertforkids.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A juvenile history of Da Vinci with 21 related activites, February 7, 2004

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

I have been going through some of the books by Janis Herbert and others than combine history with 21 activities, and as interesting as I have found those volumes to be I have to say I like the ones that deal with artists even more. "Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas" combines a detailed juvenile biography of the life of the great inventor, military engineer, scientist, botanist, and mathematician who found time to be a great painter and sculptor as well. This was the man who painted the "Mona Lisa" and invented the armored tank, diving suit, bicycle and airplane centuries before they were built. He is also an important figure in what has been the novel that has been at the top of the bestseller list for like the past year.

The biography is divided into four sections, focusing on Leonardo's youth in Vinci, his years as a young apprentice, his period of greatest productivity in Milan, and his final years in Venice and France. The volume is illustrated with dozens of pictures of Leonardo's paintings and sketches, and the back of the book includes a Glossary, Biographies of key Renaissance artists (Botticelli, Michelangeo, etc.) and historical figures (Cesare Borgia, Ludovico Sforza, etc.), Web Sites to Explore, places where you can see some of Da Vinci's work, a Bibliography, Credits, and an Index.

The other half of the book are the 21 activities and the art lessons, because in addition to detailing da Vinci's life Herbert talks about perspective, vanishing points and the like. Some of these are just basic art lessons, such as sketching things by observing nature, painting birds, decorating a jar for holding paintbrushes, and making a small picture frame. Others are specific to the artwork of da Vinci, such as making a life mask, lute, notebook, a parachute kite, and learning to measure human bodies the way Leonardo did. You can even make a minestrone soup in honor of Leonardo the vegetarian or Salai's aniseed sweets. Still others deal with the history of the time, such as making a banner.

The net result is that "Leonardo da Vinci for Kids" does more than tell the story of his life and show examples of his great artwork, but provides young readers with an opportunity to try and do the same things. This book is also of great use to teachers doing units on Leonardo, the Renaissance, or art, who will be able to find both information and activities they can use in class.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STUNNING!, July 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

This book is absolutely amazing. It is interesting, informative, well-written, gorgeously illustrated and entertaining. While it is true that this book may be a bit difficult for the average child at the lower end of the age range it is directed to, it is perfect for older children and the more talented younger children. Ms. Herbert's true genius, however, is in producing a book that adults can learn from and enjoy while they are assisting their children with the activities set out in the book -- or even if they don't have or work with children. After getting this book, I also got Ms. Herbert's next two books -- "The Civil War for Kids" and "Lewis and Clark for Kids" -- which are also wonderful. Get them all!

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I learned as much from this book as much as my students did!, October 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

I was surprised to see even one negative review of this wonderful book. I think it can be enjoyed equally by both parent/teacher and child/student. The text is beautifully written and presents all of the facets of this fascinating man. It also places his activities firmly within the context of the politics and society of the Renaissance. The book includes explanations, in language a middle-school child can understand, how flight is possible and how canals and locks work. A wide variety of activities, as well as line drawings, are included to illustrate other key concepts in painting, mechanics, etc. I cannot agree with the reviewer who felt that too few of Leonardo's works were included; I felt it included his most important works, as well as an interesting array of his mechanical, nature and anatomical drawings. As a teacher, I suggest using this book in combination with E.L. Konigsberg's "The Second Mrs. Gioconda"; my students really enjoyed seeing how novelists can use facts as the basis for fiction. I finished this book awed by the range of Leonardo's gifts and both my own daughters (one a reader, one an artist) loved this book for different reasons. But they both came away knowing about and loving Leonardo and that's the important thing!I only wish that this author would do a book on "Michaelangelo for Kids."