Product Description

The Oxford First Book of Art is a dazzling introduction for young children to the mesmerizing beauty of art. It collects a wonderfully varied collection of images--paintings, drawings, sculptures, and textiles--from around the world and through the ages. The author encourages children to look carefully at the art, ask questions about its contents, and be curious about who created it and when. Pictures are grouped by themes, starting with more accessible subjects--such as "Mother and Child" and "Faces"--and proceeding to such abstract concepts as "Light," "Patterns," and "Shapes." Superb, full-color reproductions of art by traditional artists--like Mary Cassatt's "The Bath" and William Turner's "The Fighting Temeraire"--alternate with works from modern art's foremost representatives, including Picasso, Fernand Leger, Klee, Henri Moore,and Giacometti. The selections range from Native American and Maori to Indian and Iraqi paintings and sculptures.

Simple, vivid text encourage children to get involved with the pictures, to look closely and to share their observations. For every theme there is an "Art Activity" which demonstrates to the young reader ways in which the ideas and concepts presented in the book can be applied to his or her own drawings. Wolfe intersperses numerous quizzes and games among the more serious themes of this special gift book that will provide gentle, entertaining guidance to talented, artistically-inclined children.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1876914 in Books
• Published on: 1999-12-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 48 pages

From Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-This oversized introduction highlights paintings, drawings, weavings, and sculpture from all over the world and throughout the ages. Wolfe uses examples that children will understand, such as the gentleness and tenderness between "Mother and Child" depicted in Mary Cassatt's The Child's Bath, and, in contrast, a parent's anger in Hubert von Herkomer's The Naughty Boy. Other topics include "Faces," "Figures," "Animals," "Light and Shade," and "Patterns." "That's Strange" features Ren? Magritte's surrealistic Golconda. Each topical double-page spread offers a "Look Closer" challenge where readers are asked to search for details in the particular pieces. A related art activity is also given. An invaluable "Picture List" offers information about where the original works are located, their sizes, the artists, and what mediums were used. Clear, full-color reproductions and photographs illustrate the text. A volume to spark children's imaginations and their interest in art.
Patricia Mahoney Brown, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
More than anything else, this introduction to art explains how to look at art by asking simple questions about what is shown, in order to understand what an artist is trying to communicate. The samples of artwork are from a wide range of time periods and cultures; medieval and Aboriginal art are included as well as examples of pop, impressionistic, and surrealistic art. While the text explains some of the historical information necessary to understand the works, Wolfe's emphasis is to persuade readers to bring their own experiences to their understanding of art. How are colors used to reflect seasons and temperatures? In what ways do the poses or expressions of people and animals portray emotional states? In this way, those new to looking at art will begin to trust their own interpretations of what they see, instead of feeling intimidated or in need of expert explanation. Large, attractive reproductions invite readers to linger over the pages. (index) (Nonfiction. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
Much more than an introduction to art appreciation, this beautifully reproduced book takes younger children on an art adventure through the ages and across the globe. The eclectic collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture and textiles uses both well-known and unknown artists to educate and entertain. The images are grouped by themes beginning with simple ideas such as Mother and Child and expanding to more difficult concepts like pattern. Engaging text, fun activities for during and after reading, and quizzes add to the excitement of the cultures and individuals who created the world of art. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Silver Honor winner.

Reviewed by Sarah Achenbach, Parents' Choice® 2000 -- From Parents' Choice®

Customer Reviews

Great Intoduction to Art for Children
Sometimes it seems as if there is never enough time for enrichment activities at school like art. I checked this book out from my local library hoping to find some inspiration for making some new art projects and later purchased it for my classroom. Since my elementary classroom has students with very disparate levels of English language ability, I needed a book that was written clearly enough to not discourage my ESL (English as a Second Language) students and yet not so simple that my more advanced English speakers would think of it as a "baby book."

This book was exactly what I needed with clear concise language and an abundance of beautiful color paintings and illustrations. There were also "look closer" sections for each topic, which gave useful prompts and questions to encourage further exploration by students. Suggested activities were also tremendously useful in translating learning about art into projects that my students could enjoy. Difficult words were also printed in bold so as to make vocabulary review easier for students. We ended up making a Van Gogh "The Starry Night" project and learned about foreground and background as well as color and light. The children loved it and that says a lot for often-difficult-to-please sixth graders.

I highly recommend this book as an introduction to art for third through sixth graders.

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan

Great for Mommy Summer Camp!
This book is easy to use and is very informative. It provides simple, yet insightful guidelines for looking at a variety of works. It also provides some creative activities to further the learning process. We have tried most of the suggested activities and found them to be both fun and challenging with fine results from within the suggested age range. An excellent investment for both rainy days and summer fun.