There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky [Hardcover]

Teri Sloat (Author), Stefano Vitale (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 2009 | Age Level: 3 and up

When a child looks up to find drawings on the ceiling of a cave, she wonders how they were painted. Planets that spin, the birds and the beasts, woman and man—how did the old man in the sky paint it all? Based on the 1879 discovery of ceiling paintings in Spain’s Altamira Cave, this imaginative story expresses the awe of contemplating the creation of the world and locating beauty in an unexpected place. Children will revel in this timeless tale with truly breathtaking images.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—In the style of "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly," Sloat reflects upon the Stone Age paintings discovered by a young girl, in 1879, on the ceiling of the Altamira Cave in northern Spain. They seem to represent the creation of the world, and he tries to re-create the child's thoughts as she viewed them. Vitale's glorious mixed-media illustrations on board, bursting with beautifully toned colors and an array of eye-catching patterns and stylized figures, are clearly the focus here. They depict moon and sun, stars and planets, day and night, fish, birds, animals, and people, and an old man within a circle who appears to be the creator of it all. The paintings are filled with texture as well as color—smooth folds of cave rock; light-speckled waves in the ocean depths; the cracked surface of the moon. An author's note tells how the cave paintings were discovered. This reality-based piece shows that, since ancient times, people have tried to explain, through stories, how the world was created. However, the style of the text—repetitive, rhyming verses based on a familiar nonsense song—seems the wrong choice for this introduction to an important archaeological discovery, and Sloat's sometimes nonsensical verse with accompanying paintings of primitively drawn striped and spotted people does little to introduce young children to cave paintings.—Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH END

Review

Praise for There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky:

 

“In ‘There Was an Old Man’ Teri Sloat weaves together disparate elements to great effect.”—Newsday

 

“Sloat offers a handsome, thought-provoking story…Vitale’s vibrant illustrations, in mixed media on board, reference both cave drawings and folk art. Appropriate for a wide audience, this will find its ideal fit with families wishing to impart similar beliefs about Earth’s beginnings to their children.”—Booklist

 

“Fascinating and thought-provoking.”—Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (July 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805067515
• ISBN-13: 978-0805067514
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #458,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Prehistory

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly, Wonderful, October 2, 2010

By 

SusieQ - See all my reviews

This review is from: There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky (Hardcover)

"There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky" is a beautiful book. It is just fine that the sing song text may not seem, to some, to go along with the profound discovery of the cave paintings. It is a fantastic way to introduce children to the information of the cave painting discovery, mixed media art and stories of the creation. This book should capture the interest of children and adults. Anyone interested in mixed media would also be inspired simply by the illustrations.

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Art Work, August 30, 2009

By 

DaddyRead.com "Great Books to Read Aloud" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky (Hardcover)

In 1879 a young girl, accompanying her archeologist father, discovered cave paintings dating back over 10,000 year ago. This book is a poetic description of the paintings, and the books artwork is based on the actual paintings. I recommend it for young toddlers and much older kids.