Gr 3-6-These titles promote art appreciation through exposure to well-known works, guided viewing, thought-provoking questions, and coordinated projects. Different aspects of the featured genre are presented through a variety of artwork, both two and three-dimensional. The represented styles and periods range from Gothic to Abstract. Artists include Pablo Picasso, Grant Wood, Jacob Lawrence, Frida Kahlo, Henry Moore, Jacques-Louis David, Piero della Francesca, and others. The texts suggest additional artists and artworks for further investigation. Two pages of projects follow each two pages of appreciation lessons and serve to extend the information and ideas presented. Activities have clear directions that encourage creativity. Materials and techniques range from the familiar pipe cleaners and cardboard to digital photos. Examples of completed artworks are credited to children ages 8-11. The books conclude with short paragraphs about each artist. Teachers will find easy-to-understand art lessons and projects and students will find inspiration in these well-organized, attractive titles.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

These engaging books look at famous paintings and sculptures, discussing the subjects in terms of the textures, poses, props, and colors that the artist uses. Thomson asks readers questions (answered at book's end) about each piece to encourage readers to look more closely. Creative projects expand the ideas expressed in the paintings and the text and mention other artists to look out for. Glos., ind.

Reviewed with Ruth Thomson's Creatures .Combining art history with hands-on projects, these unique titles from the A First Look at Art series introduce active, creative ways to learn about visual arts. Both books feature well-known artworks, accompanied by questions and commentary that encourage readers to view images carefully and learn more about artists' techniques. In Creatures, a particularly successful spread juxtaposes the serene, fuzzy feline in Tsuguhara Foujita's The Cat with Pablo Picasso's fierce, jagged animals in Cat and Bird to show how artists use line to create mood and texture. Activity pages alternate between the art instruction. A few of the projects require adult assistance and special equipment, such as computers, but there are many simple craft suggestions (the wonderful monster wanted posters in Creatures) that span the curriculum by requiring students to do basic research and create stories. Thomson's message seems to be that there's always more to notice and learn about a painting, and in direct, spare language, she offers excellent tools to help readers begin looking closely on their own.