Seurat and La Grande Jatte: Connecting the Dots (Orbis Pictus Honor for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (Awards))
Grade 3-5–More an analysis of the painting than a biography of the artist, Burleigh's oversized volume explicates Seurat's well-known composition. Because the artist was a private man, little is known about his personal life; by studying the technique and subject matter ofLa Grande Jatte, the author makes inferences about his subject's life and work habits. He explains that the manycroquetons(paintings on cigar boxes) and small studies executed as research for the final huge painting (7' x 10') show the artist's attention to detail. Seurat's artwork is compared to that of his contemporaries, and Burleigh interweaves a detailed look at the painting with facts about the time period, quotes from other artists, and information about Seurat's unique style. Throughout, the author does a thorough job of explaining Seurat's invention of pointillism without using technical terms. Easy-to-read, with large reproductions, this is a grand introduction.–Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.