Maxfield Parrish: A Treasury of Art and Children's Literature [Library Binding]

Alma Gilbert (Author), Maxfield Parrish (Illustrator)

Book Description

Old King Cole,"" ""Snow White,"" ""Wynken Blynken and Nod,"" and ""The Frog Prince,"" all complemented by Maxfield Parrish's traditional and beautiful children's illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although tastefully executed, this homage to the great illustrator Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) seems more resurrection than rediscovery. An art dealer and Parrish collector, Gilbert chooses about 35 works produced between 1897 and 1923, from the beginning of Parrish's career until its height. Illustrations for tales from the Arabian Nights, fairy tales, verses by Eugene Field, Mother Goose rhymes and myths allow for plentiful exposure to Parrish's unique style. Nevertheless, the grainy quality of the reproductions interferes with a full appreciation of the art. The text doesn't seem chosen with children in mind, either. A number of Field's poems, for example, are for Edwardian tastes only. Gilbert herself retells the stories, condensing them from the expansive versions of Charles Perrault, Nathaniel Hawthorne et al. so that they don't occupy more than one or two pages. Unfortunately, her renditions are pedestrian and feel rushed, completely unreflective of Parrish's enigmatic eroticism. An afterword, pointing out such hallmarks of Parrish's style as the artist's "use of heroic drapery billowing magnificently around his figure," simply preaches to the converted. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

K Up?Gilbert has collected 34 of the popular artist's paintings done to illustrate such books as The Arabian Nights, edited by Kate Wiggins and Nora Smith (Scribners, 1993); Nathaniel Hawthorne's Wonder-Tales and Tanglewood Tales (Duffield, 1910; o.p.); and Eugene Field's Poems of Childhood (Airmont, 1969). There are also those that are based on fairy tales and well-known characters from traditional rhymes. Although most of the pictures are accompanied by brief retellings of the stories they illustrated, readers may want to seek out the original versions, especially the myths, for better understanding. The full-color reproductions give viewers a sense of the artist's style?his use of color, light and shadow, and bold movements to convey mystery and wonder. While the layout and design are generally well done, it is curious that the reproduction of the illustration for Kenneth Grahame's Reluctant Dragon is reversed inside the book, though not on the cover. Notes about the artist and about Gilbert's lifelong interest in his work provide a useful overview. Source notes, as well as an index, make this an easy-to-use reference for students of children's book illustration. Those who want to know more will find much to explore in Coy Ludwig's Maxfield Parrish (Schiffer, 1973) and Paul W. Skeeter's Maxfield Parrish (Nash, 1973; o.p.).?Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 80 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689803001
• ISBN-13: 978-0689803000
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,181,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Alma Gilbert does it again!, October 19, 2010

By 

C. Miller (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Maxfield Parrish: A Treasury of Art and Children's Literature (Library Binding)

Alma Gilbert is the pre-eminent Maxfield Parrish expert! You cannot go wrong purchasing ANY book that she has written. Amazing, full color images, excellent and well-researched write-ups throughout this wonderful book. Can't wait to see what Ms. Gilbert will do next!

4.0 out of 5 stars A Treasury of Children's Literature, August 20, 2009

By 

Jeanne Caramico - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Maxfield Parrish: A Treasury of Art and Children's Literature (Library Binding)

I found the book delightful. It was what I had exspected. I had recently been to an exhibit of Maxfield Parish, which brought back memories. I wa not dissapointed.