Telling Stories in Art

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

Well-known artworks are used to point out how artists have created certain effects. In Telling Stories, the painting may be as complex as Sir Henry Unton, in which the story of one man's life is played out in many scenes, or as simple as a single moment from a familiar story, such as The Animals Entering the Ark, or an episode from The Thousand and One Nights. Other techniques include telling a story with a story or a focus on a main character or event in a story. As with the other books in the series, there is a good selection of art representing a variety of styles. The last section of the book offers tips and challenges for kids to try their hand at painting and in particular to tell a story by using the techniques described in earlier examples. The final section offers more information about the paintings used to illustrate the author's points. There is a glossary, list of web sites and an index. Part of a series of six books entitled "How to Look at Art." 2000 (orig. 1997), Gareth Stevens, Ages 8 up, $19.93. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot