Amazon.com: Lunchtime for a Purple Snake: Harriet Ziefert, Todd McKie: Books

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Jessica wants to be an artist just like her grandfather. On one visit, he gives her a lesson on color theory and together they create the title painting. Grandpa also shows her how to turn a "mistake" into a painting, explaining, "All artists make mistakes." While making paint "sing" or painting until a picture goes "dead" may be illusive concepts for many readers, the story itself is satisfying. McKie and Ziefert's successful collaboration continues as text and illustrations support one another with a practiced precision. The bold, primitive pictures combine the fluid qualities of paint in the works of art with a crisp edge on the characters and setting. Though the lessons may seem a little didactic, the patient grandfather is a supportive teacher. The "Lunchtime for a Purple Snake" picture that the two create has an agreeable blend of childlike splash and complementary control. Grandpa, art, and color give this offering a variety of applications in libraries serving budding young artists.
Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 1. There are many books about art for young children, but few of them get right down to their level the way this does. Jessica's grandfather is an artist, and she likes to visit him, so they can paint together. The simple story line is also an art lesson, as Grandpa explains that the colors he squeezes from the tube are "enough to make all the colors of the rainbow." There are also words of wisdom about making mistakes and "trying to make the colors sing." The result of the collaboration by the two artists, "Lunchtime for a Purple Snake," makes for a delightful conclusion. The art and the design of this are both marvelously childlike. The two layers of art--the actual illustrations and the paintings Grandpa and Jessica do--both have the look of a child's renderings. McKie creates characters that might be related to Mr. Potato Head, simplicity themselves, set against backgrounds of geometric shapes and pure colors. Jessica's actual artwork is as basic in form as a young child's would be--and it is full of a child's exuberance and imagination. Budding artists, at home or in class, will learn from this and receive inspiration. Ilene Cooper
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