The Year with Grandma Moses [Hardcover]

W. Nikola-Lisa (Author), Grandma Moses (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A unique introduction to an important American Artist.

When Grandma Moses looks out her window,
she sees a world of spotted cows,
a world of thunderstorms, rain-drenched fields,
and hand-washed laundry flapping in the wind.

This stunning picture book introduces children of all ages to the work of legendary artist Grandma Moses. Beginning in the spring -- full of thunderstorms and scenes of laundry flapping in the wind -- Nikola-Lisa's lyrical text captures the seasons on a farm and highlights the simple yet wonderful moments depicted in Grandma Moses's folk art paintings. The experience is made all the more intimate by Grandma Moses's journal excerpts, which give readers a first-hand look at what inspired the artist.

With its paintings and descriptions of hay rides in the fall, ice-skating in winter, and flower-gathering in the spring and summer, The Year with Grandma Moses celebrates an important American artist and shares her special world with others.

When Grandma Moses (born Anna Mary Robertson) was in her seventies, her paintings were discovered by a New York art collector. By her 100th birthday, Grandma Moses had become one of the most well-known and beloved artists of her time. She died in 1961 at the age of 101.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Grandma Moses's own words, excerpted from her memoirs, and reproductions of her evocative primitive paintings provide a solid foundation for this appealing volume. The excerpts appear on the left of each spread on an oval, darkened to appear like parchment, opposite a related painting on the right. Less strong is the book's third component, which appears on the right below each painting: Nikola-Lisa's (One Hole in the Road) simplistic and uneven interpretation of the artist's environment and lifestyle, which reads as a run-on commentary more or less thematically tied to each piece of art. He starts out describing Moses's world objectively ("When Grandma Moses looks out her window, she sees a world of spotted cows, and rolling hills, and white picket fences"), then abruptly gives the narrator a role in the goings-on ("With Christmas around the corner,/ we'll have lots of fun outdoors,/ and indoors, tooA/ opening presents, playing games,/ and feasting on food/ we've helped prepare"). Yet his captionlike account succeeds in creating a through-line for the paintings, which youngsters may appreciate. Aimed at considerably more advanced readers, Moses's own writing effortlessly brings children back to the era of her childhood as she describes the diversions of each season. Ages 4-10.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 5-Scenes of laundry flapping, trees in bloom, maple sugaring, families in fields, a Christmas parlor-this is the worldview of folk-artist Anna Mary Robertson Moses. In the author's note, Nikola-Lisa writes that he was struck by the cyclical nature of her visual record and has arranged this picture book seasonally, starting with spring. Each double-page spread includes a full-color painting on the right, accompanied by the author's brief commentary. Related excerpts from Moses's memoirs are printed in sepia ovals on a cream background on the left. Her words inform older readers about the routines, pleasures, and disappointments of her childhood farm life while the author's text offers a starting point for looking at the pictures with young children. The paintings convey a quiet joy, an ever-changing light, and the beauty of nature (the artist's own brand of pointillism is quite effective at depicting snow, sheer curtains, and tiny buds). An opening color photograph of Moses at her painting table speaks volumes. Nikola-Lisa's careful selections and spare approach effectively convey the spirit of this self-taught, spirited woman. For more information, readers may consult Zibby Oneal's Grandma Moses (Puffin, 1987). It would be interesting to pair The Year with Grandma Moses with Barbara Cooney's Miss Rumphius (Viking, 1982).
Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (October 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805062432
• ISBN-13: 978-0805062434
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 11.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

W. Nikola-Lisa's interest in writing books for children began as an elementary school teacher. He is the author of numerous picture books, including the award-winning Bein' With You This Way (Lee & Low), Shake Dem Halloween Bones (Houghton Mifflin), The Year With Grandma Moses (Henry Holt), Setting the Turkeys Free (Hyperion), and How We Are Smart (Lee & Low), a Christopher Award recipient. An accomplished storyteller and musician, Mr. Nikola-Lisa enjoys sharing his writing experiences with audiences--young and old--whenever possible. For more information about Mr. Nikola-Lisa go to www.nikolabooks.com or visit his storytelling blog at nikolabooks.blogspot.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The artistic vision of Grandma Moses, March 26, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Year with Grandma Moses (Hardcover)

Grandma Moses, who died at the age of 101 in 1961, was one of the most beloved folk artists in the United States. "The Year with Grandma Moses," by W. Nikola-Lisa, brings together 13 of her classic paintings, along with brief excerpts from the artist's own autobiographical writings. The result is a beautiful tribute to a remarkable artist.

The book opens with a great full-color photographic portrait of Grandma Moses at work at her painting table in 1952. A brief but informative biography sets the stage for the treasures that follow.

Grandma Moses was a rural New York farm wife for most of her long life, and her paintings reflect this world. Colorful, lively, and rich in detail, these paintings record and celebrate the daily lives of farm communities. We see classic farmhouses, a horse-drawn carriage, children climbing a tree, cows grazing, people engaging in chores, and other sights.

Because the book focuses on a year in Grandma's world, the paintings reflect all of the seasons. We see the green fields of springtime, the brilliant foliage of autumn, and the snowy landscapes of winter. "The Year with Grandma Moses" is a wonderful book that captures the spirit of an American creative legend.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Choice for Teaching, January 21, 2012

By 

D. B. Rosenthal - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Year with Grandma Moses (Hardcover)

I use this book to help my kindergarten students learn about Grandma Moses. We focus on her use of details and elaboration to "tell" the stories of her life and the lives of her family and friends. The illustrations are lovely and full of details for my students to practice describing and analyzing. I ask them what they see. (e.g. If they say they see winter, I ask them what they see in the picture that lets them know it might be winter.) Students then begin a drawing assignment using details to visually "tell" the story of our first snowfall this year (it came BEFORE Halloween!) We then extend our learning with a book about Clementine Hunter, another wonderful and inspiring, untrained artist. The stories of these two ladies, from different parts of the U.S., reinforce the worth and value of all our lives and the artwork we create.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Year with Grandma Moses, February 12, 2009

By 

Jane M. Peterson "artgirl" (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Year with Grandma Moses (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully done book on a well known but seldomly talked about artist. I love that the illustrations are all her paintings. Students love to see the simplicity of her work.