Michelangelo

Children's Literature

The "Xtraordinary Artists" series looks at the lives of artists with major and enduring accomplishments. The names included in this series are a diverse group of artists: a painter, a dancer, a sculpture, and an architect. Each book looks at the personal life and professional successes of the featured artist. This title looks at the life of Michelangelo. The publisher takes full advantage of the large, picture book format to include lots of big color reproductions of Michelangelo's artwork. The text gives a thorough account of his life from his lowly birth, his childhood, his education, and a description of his career path. Along the way, the text also explains some technical terms like fresco cartoon and describes how it is used. Quotes from Michelangelo's contemporaries appear through out the book, giving a human element to this famous artist's story. Also, there is an "In His Words" section that quotes directly from some of the artist's correspondence and documented writings. They have reprinted a few of Michelangelo's letters to various Papal officials about the slow progress of a tomb carving. The reader also "hears" the humorous voice of Michelangelo in his poem about the discomforts of painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling every day. "And the brush, ever over my face makes a rich pavement with its droppings." This book is part of Library Books/Creative Education's "Xtraordinary Artists" series which also includes Frank Lloyd Wright, Pablo Picasso, and Rudolf Nureyev. 2006, Creative Education, Ages 8 to 14.
—Sally J. K. Davies