RESOURCE CENTER
Books, Videos, and Websites
Children’s Book Briefs
Cindy Hasio
The New 50 Things Kids Can Do to
Save the Earth. Sophie Jauna. Riverside, NJ: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2009. Illus., softcover, 208 pp.,
$12.99.
This delightful and insightful book
is easy to read and helps readers find
ways to conserve the earth. Packed
with interesting facts, this book asks
fun questions for the young reader
to answer at the end of each chapter.
This book covers everything from
wasting energy, to air pollution, to
water pollution, to making your
own compost and being involved in
the community. References such as
websites and online videos are listed
throughout, and a section at the end
of each chapter called “Amaze Your
Friends,” allows readers of all levels to
share their knowledge with others and
challenge themselves to explore conservation on their own.
Face Food: The Visual Creativity of
Japanese Bento Boxes. Christopher D.
Salyers. New York, NY: Mark Batty
Publisher, 2008. Illus., hardcover,
80 pp., $12.95.
This book shows the master artistry
of Japanese character bento boxes,
also referred to as charaben. Inside are
colorful and impressive photographs
of how individuals in Japan create
charaben by adding intricate details
to food and create faces with cut
ham, whiskers out of seaweed, and
highlight the eyes of characters with
cut cheese. Along with each picture,
there is information about the artist
who created it, and interviews that
reveal how they got started in creating
these wonderful bento box decorations. From cute animals, to Japanese
anime characters, to landscapes and
backgrounds, these artists show great
devotion towards making these bento
boxes for their children. This book
can be used as a great multicultural
reference tool in teaching students
about bento box art.
Cindy Hasio is a Ph.D. student in Art Education at the University of North Texas in
Denton, Texas.
Bookmarks
Cindy Hasio
Beadwork: A World Guide. Caroline
Crabtree and Pam Stallebrass. New
York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2009.
Illus., softcover, 208 pp., $34.95.
Beautiful colorful photographs deco-
rate each page of this book, which
features beadwork from five conti-
nents: Africa, the Americas, Europe,
and Asia. Each example of beadwork
outlines the historical and cultural
terrain in which it was created and
examines the art in detail. The book
describes the expressive, festive, spiri-
tual, and traditional use of beadwork
for each international community;
the descriptions illustrate the unique
styles and show their cultural signifi-
cance. Included at the end of the book
are chapters describing the construc-
tion and techniques of beadwork, from
knitting and crochet to herringbone
weave and three-dimensional struc-
tures. This book is recommended for
upper-level students and educators.
Spirit of Color: A Sensory Meditation
Guide to Creative Expression. Connie Smith Siegel. New York, NY:
Watson-Guptill Publications, 2008.
Illus., softcover, 176 pp., $24.95.
Author and talented artist Connie
Smith Siegal explores the experiential significance of color and how it
is used in art. Siegal describes the
healing and meditative approaches
to using color. Throughout the book
there are conceptual aspects of color
expression to help readers develop
personal meaning through the use of
color harmonies.
Siegel also explores the theory of
color and the power of contrast of hue
in bringing emotional significance
to a work of art. She explains the
elemental qualities of color that are
represented through earth, fire, water,
and air. This book includes diverse
examples of color usage from many
great artists such as van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Kandinsky. Examples of
Siegel’s beautiful landscapes, along
with other current artist’s expressive observations of color are found
throughout this book in vibrant high-quality images.
Cindy Hasio is a Ph.D. student in Art Education at the University of North Texas in
Denton, Texas.
