Joseph Turner

Children's Literature

The opulent paintings of the eccentric English landscape painter J.M.W. Turner are certainly worth introducing to primary grade students. Whether the artist has been well-served in this particular book is questionable, with eight of his most celebrated works reproduced in modest scale vying for attention with sketches, early watercolors and one erroneously described "drawing" that is actually an engraving. Although the text is brief and the language simple, the book raises more questions than it attempts to answer, and its idiosyncratic chronology is confusing. On the plus side, the reproductions are clear and colors fairly accurate, and there surely cannot be many books written for this age group about Turner. Interesting details, such as Turner's habit of touching up paintings when they were hanging in exhibitions and the famous tale of lashing him to the mast of a ship so that he could fully experience the fury of a gale, may spark youngsters' curiosity and lead them to investigate the artist further. A timeline, glossary and small bibliography are included. 2001, Heinemann Library/Reed Educational and Professional Publishing, $21.36. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Michele Tremaine