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[CCBC-Net] Art and Artists in Literature for Children and Teens
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From: Melissa Henderson <mhenderson>
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 12:59:19 -0500
I am a fan of using picture books (biographical and not so biographical) about artists as a means of introducing children in elementary grades to various artists and genres. Some of my favorites include:
"Frida" by Jonah Winter -- wonderful for discussion of how Frida Kahlo used her physically painful life experiences as inspiration for her beautiful works of art. I have used this book in both Spanish and English for a school visit program for 4th graders, along with large coffee-table type books with her artwork.
"Dinner at Magritte's" by Michael Garland -- good in combination with "Strange Mr. Satie" by M.T. Anderson for an introduction to surrealism. You could also play the "exquisite corpse" game (http://www.philobiblon.com/isitabook/games/exquisite.html) ... under a different name, perhaps, for the younger crowd!
Another favorite is "Uncle Andy's," in which illustrator James Warhola writes about his childhood visits to his "Uncle Andy" (Warhol) in New York City.
For my own personal instruction before visiting the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit in Chicago, I read Robert Burleigh's 2005 biography of the artist. I haven't used this with children, but think it could be part of a good program.
Melissa Henderson Children's Librarian Warren-newport Public Library Gurnee, IL
-----Original Message-----
From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Megan Schliesman
Sent: Tue 6/6/2006 8:19 AM
To: Subscribers of ccbc-net
Cc:
Subject: [CCBC-Net] Art and Artists in Literature for Children and Teens
Today we start our discussion of books for children and young adults
about art and artists.
>From fact to fiction, many books for children and teens have explored
art, artists, and the artistic process. There are informative
biographies, illuminating novels, inspiring picture books, and a number
of how-to (or in the case of Mark Gonyea's "Complicated Doesn't Make
It Good," how NOT to) guides to creative visual expression. We'll
spend the first half of June looking at treatments of art and artists in
books for children and teens.
What books come to mind when you think of literature for youth about
art and artists?
For me, two that I think of immediately are by the same author: E.L.
Konigsburg: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (which
I believe was mentioned by at least one person in our last discussion),
and The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. I think Outcasts in particular
offers a lot to think about the creative process, and of course the
critical question (in that book) of what IS art?
The same yeara s Outcasts (2004), there was a nonfiction book that
struck me as quite a fascinating companion work: Art Against the Odds:
>From Slave Quits to Prison Paintings by Susan Goldman Rubin. THat book,
about outsider art and artists, might have featured the uncles in
Outcasts had they been real.
But I can also think of countless memorable biographies: Jeanette
Winter's My Name Is Georgia, Jonah Winter's Frida . . ., both of which,
in their spareness and eloquence, capture essential elements about each
artists life and work.
What books do you appreicate when it comes to their treatments of art,
and why?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian
Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, UW-Madison
600 N. Park St., Room 4290
Madison, WI 53706
ph: 608-262-9503
fax: 608-262-4933
schliesman at education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
_______________________________________________
CCBC-Net mailing list
CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Tue 06 Jun 2006 12:59:19 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 12:59:19 -0500
I am a fan of using picture books (biographical and not so biographical) about artists as a means of introducing children in elementary grades to various artists and genres. Some of my favorites include:
"Frida" by Jonah Winter -- wonderful for discussion of how Frida Kahlo used her physically painful life experiences as inspiration for her beautiful works of art. I have used this book in both Spanish and English for a school visit program for 4th graders, along with large coffee-table type books with her artwork.
"Dinner at Magritte's" by Michael Garland -- good in combination with "Strange Mr. Satie" by M.T. Anderson for an introduction to surrealism. You could also play the "exquisite corpse" game (http://www.philobiblon.com/isitabook/games/exquisite.html) ... under a different name, perhaps, for the younger crowd!
Another favorite is "Uncle Andy's," in which illustrator James Warhola writes about his childhood visits to his "Uncle Andy" (Warhol) in New York City.
For my own personal instruction before visiting the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit in Chicago, I read Robert Burleigh's 2005 biography of the artist. I haven't used this with children, but think it could be part of a good program.
Melissa Henderson Children's Librarian Warren-newport Public Library Gurnee, IL
-----Original Message-----
From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Megan Schliesman
Sent: Tue 6/6/2006 8:19 AM
To: Subscribers of ccbc-net
Cc:
Subject: [CCBC-Net] Art and Artists in Literature for Children and Teens
Today we start our discussion of books for children and young adults
about art and artists.
>From fact to fiction, many books for children and teens have explored
art, artists, and the artistic process. There are informative
biographies, illuminating novels, inspiring picture books, and a number
of how-to (or in the case of Mark Gonyea's "Complicated Doesn't Make
It Good," how NOT to) guides to creative visual expression. We'll
spend the first half of June looking at treatments of art and artists in
books for children and teens.
What books come to mind when you think of literature for youth about
art and artists?
For me, two that I think of immediately are by the same author: E.L.
Konigsburg: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (which
I believe was mentioned by at least one person in our last discussion),
and The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. I think Outcasts in particular
offers a lot to think about the creative process, and of course the
critical question (in that book) of what IS art?
The same yeara s Outcasts (2004), there was a nonfiction book that
struck me as quite a fascinating companion work: Art Against the Odds:
>From Slave Quits to Prison Paintings by Susan Goldman Rubin. THat book,
about outsider art and artists, might have featured the uncles in
Outcasts had they been real.
But I can also think of countless memorable biographies: Jeanette
Winter's My Name Is Georgia, Jonah Winter's Frida . . ., both of which,
in their spareness and eloquence, capture essential elements about each
artists life and work.
What books do you appreicate when it comes to their treatments of art,
and why?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian
Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education, UW-Madison
600 N. Park St., Room 4290
Madison, WI 53706
ph: 608-262-9503
fax: 608-262-4933
schliesman at education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
_______________________________________________
CCBC-Net mailing list
CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Tue 06 Jun 2006 12:59:19 PM CDT
