Landscapes

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4The marriage of form and content in an art series is often difficult to manage. These titles successfully balance the amount of information and the activities presented to reinforce the experience. Readers learn about depicting animals, landscapes, portraits, or stories by exploring six works of fine art and are then given suggestions for their own artistic expressions. This is accomplished through the use of vivid full-color photographs, illustrations, as well as samples of children's art. Although the discussion of each piece of art is brief, it includes relevant details about the work's obvious features in a lively and succinct manner. Similarly, the directives leading toward self-expression are brief, yet complete, utilizing several mediums and easily found materials. Making use of children's art as illustrative examples provides a tangible expression of the ideas for youngsters to see. By combining art appreciation with instruction, these books present a unique approach to the subject.Amelia Kalin, Valley Cottage Library, NY