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Storybook Art: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of 100 Great Picture Book Illustrators (Bright Ideas for Learning) Review

"Storybook Art" is one of those keepers that can be used over and over again. And not necessarily for the art projects!

As a retired English teacher and current children's librarian, I have held thousands and thousands of books in my hands. This book ranks up there in the very top echelon of most organized books. In fact, the lay-out of illustrators and organization of information is just incredible.

But first, what this book is all about is the creation of art that goes beyond the book itself (on which the art is based) to show children (adults?) just how the illustrator/writer created the artwork so integral to the story. In other words this book contains "over 100 companion art activities matched to children's favorite picture books" (6).

Some examples:
Scratch board art based on Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are," a must-read classic.
Illustrated music--Nancy Winslow Parker's art in "Oh, a Hunting We Will Go"
Tankas to go with Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach"
Friendship Stick (a likely to-be-treasured keeper) based on the classic "May I Bring a Friend" by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers
Color Outline--Molly Bang's "When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry"

The variety of art projects is almost mind-bogling, just as the illustrations on which they are based.

Now the amazing organization. The art is group into four broad categories for projects: paint, draw, cut/collage, and craft/construction with artists in each presented alphabetically. The Chart of Contents in the front of the book provides this information. Also included is the birth dates of each illustrator. Just as teachers have little parties for each child as his/her birthday arrives, so too can the class recognize the illustrator's birthday (which many teachers already do for authors).

However, it is Chapter 5: Resource Guide and Index, which is so fabulous. Here is what the reader will find:
Author/Illustrator Information and Biographic Websites
Publisher Websites
Resource Books--Illustrators and Authors or Picture Books (just a short but handy list)
Illustrator Websites (worth the price of the book!!!)
Picture Book Publishers and ISBN numbers of books in this volume
Quotes and Cites (a quote is used by each illustrator--this shows its source)
Picture Book Awards
Illustrator Index
Author Index
Picture Book Index
Art Activity Index
Easy Index
Art Activity--Page Order Index
Storybook Art Illustrators Hall of Fame (with thumbnail photos)
Bright Ideas Bookshelf (other titles in this series of books about art across the curriculum)

What a dazzling array of books, illustrations, artists, writers, publishers, art activities. Oh my!

Storybook Art: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of 100 Great Picture Book Illustrators (Bright Ideas for Learning) Feature

• ISBN13: 9780935607031
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Storybook Art: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of 100 Great Picture Book Illustrators (Bright Ideas for Learning) Overview

Children can enjoy their favorite storybook illustrators in a new way by imitating their art with the 100 engaging and simple art projects included in this celebration of children's book illustrators. Featured are famous and award-winning storybook illustrators from the 1930s to present-Good Night Moon's Clement Hurd, Corduroy's Don Freeman, Olivia's Ian Falconer, and more-along with biographical information, open-ended art projects, and portraits created by grade school children. Illustration techniques covered include painting, drawing, cutting and collage, and construction and crafts. Art projects include imitating Jackson Pollock in the "Jackson Piglet Wall Painting" from Olivia and creating a "Photo Story" from children's photos similar to Sugaring Time. An extensive resource guide of illustrator web sites, art materials, and supplies listed by project is provided, as well as complete book information for the featured illustrators' works.

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Customer Reviews

Fabulous Series - K. McClenaghan - Australia
Kohl has an amazing ability to take the essence of an illustrator and create a simple to organise and reproduce art activity. As your children grow through this book do look out for other books written by MaryAnn Kohl. They are incredible value for money.






Literacy and Art, a greatly inspired team - Peggy Clayton - Massachusetts
Kids favorite books inspire easy art activities for kids. Excellent. I've found that when the kids do art projects that relate to their favorite picture books, they like their books more and want to read them more closely, and more often. They become finely tuned to the illustrations, and certainly this is an inspiration to create their own art. I've got some favorites in this book. One of them is based on Marshmallow the Bunny, where kids try their hand at charcoal drawing. Of course there's an Eric Carle collage from painted paper. And another favorite is Watercolor Snow Collage based on Ezra Jack Keats' "The Snowy Day". Really pretty but still open ended for kids to feel expression of their own. One of the most intriguing projects is one using simple photos the kids take, yes little kids can take pictures!!!, is based on Dare Wright's photography books with her little doll, Edith, and the doll's companion, Mr. Bear. Kids set up scenes with their toys and take digital pictures of them, then print out and tell stories. I did this with some kindergarteners and it was extremely successful. They want to do it all the time. So, why not? If they want to learn to read from their own little picture photo stories, who am I to say no? : ) Excellent for teachers and inspirational for kids.



MaryAnn Kohl, review update/literacy connection - MaryAnn F. Kohl - Bellingham, WA USA
I travel around the country working with childcare people and early childhood teachers (young kids through grade three). They seem to love this book, with its connection to favorite picture books. When kids do art that is in the style or technique of the illustrator, they are more tuned in to the book when they read it again, and they are definitely more tuned in to illustrations in all books. If you value the art of books, so will kids. I'm very happy that educators see the impact art can have on literacy.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 29, 2010 08:05:22