Grant Wood: The Artist in the Hayloft (Adventures in Art (Prestel))
Gr. 2-4. It's surprising that there are so few resources for children about Grant Wood, an artist whose style is realistic and approachable and whose subjects bring American history close. This title in the Adventures in Art series introduces the Iowa painter, pairing brief, interactive text with large color reproductions of his artwork. Younger children may respond to direct invitations to count objects, such as windmills, in an image. Older ones may enjoy finding hints of humor and social commentary in the paintings. A few readers may find the tone occasionally off-putting in its reach for a young audience: "With a few scrap bits of metal . . . he could make art out of things that would make you say ouch!" The reproductions, however, some of which are accompanied by a preliminary sketch, are clear and bright, and the biographical information is mostly well presented. Teachers can use this as a springboard for discussions and projects about the ways that artists honor their roots. A full list of featured works closes.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved