The Jumbo Book of Art (Kids Can Press Jumbo Books)
Grade 3-8-Packed to the brim with appealing projects and easy-to-follow instructions, this volume makes a terrific case for the argument that everyone can be an artist. Each of the four chapters is devoted to instructing readers in the basics of one technique-drawing, creating with color, sculpture, and mixed-media projects, respectively-and then inspires those readers to let loose and have fun making something beautiful. There really is something for every child to do and enjoy in this book-activities range from simple blind contour drawings to creating mobiles to making stencils to crafting papier-mache hats and masks to building dioramas and room dividers. Adults will be charmed to see sly allusions to Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O'Keeffe, Georges Seurat, Jackson Pollock, and Marcel Duchamp (among many others), and to some of the techniques that made them famous. The book features clear layouts, well-written definitions of terms, full-color illustrations, and more than 90 projects. Parents and teachers (to say nothing of librarians who organize craft sessions) will appreciate the in-home availability and low cost of most items required for the activities. A good basic glossary of art terms and a fine index are also included. This practical, lively, and smart package is a must-have for every art and elementary school classroom, and a welcome addition to most library collections.Sophie R. Brookover, Mount Laurel Library, NJCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.