Children’s Book Briefs
Sharon Warwick
Once Upon a Picture. Sally Swain.
Chicago, IL: Independent Publish-
ers Group, 2007. Illus., hardcover,
32 pp., 8.95.
Sally Swain unravels and trans-
forms the paintings of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh,
Paul Klee, and Henri Rousseau by
focusing on a character inside each
artwork and letting that character
work like a visual narrator. The colorful illustrations reveal the style
of each artist and connect with the
reader. Bright color, line, and brushwork reveal the style of the artist
and the iconography and imagery
in refreshing ways. The characters
are so charming and the mood of
the works so revealing that readers
will experience the strong emotion
of each artwork. Teacher notes are
available from www.allenanddun-win.com.
Musical Stories Series: The Boy and
the Spell. Maurice Ravel, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, adapted by Pegi
Deitz Shea, illustrated by Serena
Riglietti. Columbus, Ohio: Pump-
kin House, Ltd., 2007. Illus., hard-
cover, 36 pp., 16.95.
In this fanciful adaptation of
Maurice Ravel’s acclaimed opera
L’Enfant et les Sortileges (The
Child and the Spell), Pegi Deitz
Shea retells the story of a young
boy’s lesson in responsibility using
musical language and word play
in a style that blurs imagination
and reality. Unwilling to finish his
math homework, Thomas is sent to
his room and, in a tantrum, wrecks
his toys and belongings. When the
animals and objects he has ruined
confront him and make him face
his misbehavior, Thomas learns
to be more respectful of others.
Riglietti creates beautiful and sur-
real watercolor illustrations that
distort perspective and play with
point of view. Beautifully written
and illustrated for young children,
the story is timeless and universal.
This visually stunning book would
be a joyful addition to any elemen-
tary art. It is recommended for ages
seven to nine, but the illustrations
are suited for everyone.
P Is for Peanut: A Photographic
ABC. Lisa Gelber and Jody Roberts. Los Angeles: The J. Paul Getty
Museum, 2007. Hardcover, 58 pp.,
$ 9.95.
We encounter an eye-catching
black-and-white photograph and
red-and-white graphic for each let-
ter of the alphabet in this engaging
book. Starting with the letter Z, the
reader discovers information about
each photograph and photographer
beneath a thumbnail of the photograph, including a bright red title
for each work of art, and historical
documentation that places it within
the history of photography. This
clever format makes us go back and
examine the photograph for each
letter more carefully within the
context of the information given,
making it difficult to put the book
down. This little treasure is a real
asset for art teachers as it focuses
attention, elicits close observation,
and makes meaningful connections
between the photographs and the
world around us.
—Sharon Warwick is a National
Art Consultant for Davis Publica-
tions.
Bookmarks
Rebecca Martin
National Gallery of Art, 2nd Ed.
Earl A. Powell (foreword). London:
Thames & Hudson, 2006. Illus.,
softcover, 332 pp., $18.95.
When you travel to the nation’s
capitol, a visit to the cherished art
collection of the country is a must.
Once within its walls, you begin
with the late Middle Ages and pro-
ceed to the present, viewing many
notable and great masterpieces
the entire way. Or you may want
to sit still and review from afar in
your armchair. Whether you are
at home, in transit, or on-site, this
guide book is an essential tool to
complement a tour of the National
Gallery of Art. The chapters are in
chronological order and open with a
scholarly note on the time period. A
defining sample artwork is included
in grand illustrative detail. Almost
every page boasts a clearly rendered
reproduction of a single artwork
that is also explained in-depth. The
comfortable carrying size is inviting and the sheer beauty and scope
of presented artworks will whet
