Murals: Walls That Sing (America's Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards)) [Hardcover]

George Ancona (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

Presents a photo essay about murals, a form of art the photographer, George Ancona, regards as authentically for the people or "para el pueblo."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-This colorful photo-essay provides a fascinating look at outdoor murals and the communities they represent. The abundant, vibrant photos-three to four on each spread-vary between broad shots, close-ups of details, and images of a variety of people either creating or viewing the paintings. Most of the works are in the United States, and are largely from Latino and Hispanic communities. The paintings capture the spirit, pride, and history of the individuals depicted, and the photos do a great job of presenting the scale of murals in contrast to people and architecture. The accessible text covers the philosophy behind this art form, offers a short historical perspective, and provides a bit of context about the examples included in the book. The different materials used are briefly touched upon. There is one mention of graffiti and a simple description of how mural artists develop a design. Unfortunately, no specific locations are given for readers who might want to view these works, and not all terms are clearly defined. Because of its format, this photo-essay is better for inspiration and appreciation than for satisfying the needs of researchers. Michael Capek's Murals (Lerner, 1996) provides a more complete historical view. Still, Ancona's eye-catching book just might whet the appetite of budding artists.
Susannah Price, Boise Public Library, ID
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. "In their own way, community murals seem to say, 'This is who we are, and we are here!'" In this picture-book tribute, Ancona showcases a range of beautiful urban artwork, photographed mostly in major American cities. He begins with a short background, including images of the cave paintings in Lascaux, France; ancient Mexican frescos; and postrevolutionary Mexican murals. The rest of the book shows a diverse selection of murals. In San Francisco, a mural of Central American women holding photos of their missing loved ones sends a searing political message; in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the painted exterior of a Middle-Eastern restaurant pictures the proud owners surrounded by their diverse customers. Ancona's brief, enthusiastic text provides sufficient introduction to the murals' symbols, although more could have been included about the art form in general, and about graffiti art, of interest to many readers, which receives only a single spread. However, the beautiful, sharp color photos and the unusual subject will attract plenty of browsers, and the book is a great choice for starting classroom discussions about community. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books; First edition. edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761451315
• ISBN-13: 978-0761451310
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,265,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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