Book Description

Crying in the checkout lane, squabbling with playmates over a new toy, or refusing to go to bed on time.Common Sense Parenting skills can help you handle these day-to-day challenges you face with your young child.Included in this book is: How to set reasonable expectations based on your child's age, development, and abilities.How to give your child all the nurturing, love, and praise he or she needs to thrive.How to use a parent's version of "show and tell" to both prevent problems and correct misbehavior.How to create plans for staying calm for you and your child. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

absolutely excellent
i just had to take the time to write this review to let people know how wonderful this book is. If you don't believe in yelling at or hitting your children, but you can't figure out what else to do, this is the book for you. I have a 4 year old and have been following this book's advice for about 6 months and it works every time. it worked right from the beginning. It made sense to me and fit my style of wanting to "teach" my daughter rather than scold and threaten. It gives you examples and step by step instructiions. It is not a book that you can just "flip through" to get answers to your questions. You have to "read" it all the way through because one section links to the other. But it reads easily and quickly like you are talking to someone who understands. You can read it in a day or two. My copy is highlighted and dog-eared all the way through. I can't say enough about this book. My daughter and I are BOTH happier and better "behaved". I hope the authors have written other books on the next age group and adolescents.

An expertly written "how to" manual
Collaboratively written by parenting experts Bridget A. Barnes and Steven M. York, Common Sense Parenting Of Toddlers And Preschoolers is a very practical and "parent friendly" guide to the raising young children. From setting reasonable expectations for young children; to teaching social skills and self-control; to turning daily and weekly routines into family traditions, to handling very practical issues such as toilet training, bedtime, and meals, Common Sense Parenting Of Toddlers And Preschoolers is an expertly written "how to" manual which is very highly recommended for parents and caretakers of children ages 2 through 5. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Children who have been captivated by the bold, colorful paintings ofJacob Lawrence (1917- ) in the context of African American history lessons now have a chance to learn the full life story of this unique, dedicated artist. Though it's hard for any text to stand on equal footing with artwork this imaginative and strong (25 full-color reproductions from Lawrence's Migration series, Toussaint L'Ouverture series, and more, are included here), John Duggleby has crafted the tale of Lawrence's life into a satisfyingly rich, and quick-moving biography.

As much a history of cultural life in 1930s Harlem as it is the story of Lawrence's upbringing, Story Painter also includes all the details necessary to make Lawrence's personal artistic life spring to life. Wesee him start experimenting with tempera paints at an after-school program at the same time as he's running off to hear special black history lectures at the Harlem libraries. The dedication to his craft was obvious at a very young age, earning him support from prominent black artists such as Augusta Savage and winning him great working gigs such as the Easel Project, which paid him $23.86 per week for two paintings every six weeks. Museums and gallery owners courted him as soon as he showed his work publicly; by age 30, he was considered America's foremost black artist. A few years later this dizzying ascent took its toll, and Lawrence spent a nine-month stint in a hospital for depression. He soon righted himself, eventually moving to Seattle to become a distinguished art professor and mentor.

Exquisitely designed, Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence builds a relationship between the full-page illustrations and their concurring partnered text that makes this book a visual splendor. The strongest color in a painting, for example, may show up as the background color for the accompanying words, or may be used to make a sidebar snippet of African American poetry pop off the page. The handful of evocativeblack-and-white photographs of Lawrence feature beautifully drawn borders and are set against rich backgrounds of color. This level of design sophistication and care is reverential to Lawrence and a great reward for all readers who care about art and its pursuit. (Ages 9 to 12) --Jean Lenihan ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a good book about an important artist
This book not only offers a well-written, informative overview of Jacob Lawrence's life but also offers snapshots of historical events that were part of his times and of his people's past, which he recounted in his powerful paintings. The book uses Lawrence's art beautifully, showcasing its brilliance while also using it to help tell the often-compelling story of the artist's life; excellent opening quotes in each chapter (from various cultural figures throughout Lawrence's lifetime) also subtly enhance the meaning of the text. Worth it for the art reproductions alone, and a story that shows how an artist and a person can be an interesting product of culture, society, and innate genius. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Simply the best!
For ten years, I've been painting faces for carnivals, parties, Halloween - you name it - this book can take rank beginners and allow them to paint very professional looking faces. The instructions are easy to follow, and elaborate on multiple techniques, including sponging and using different brush tips to achieve different effects. I highly recommend it - a word of caution- use only high quality face paints as they cover and blend better than the cheapos! Enjoy!

Face Painting (Hotshots Series)
This is a nice, compact, book on face painting. It briefly covers materials, equipment, and technique before showing you a nice variety of face-painting ideas. The directions for achieving each look, while not detailed, are sufficient to create the desired effect. Wonderful for Halloween ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, eighteen dynamic paintings from around the world feature simple, colorful, child-friendly forms — animals, fruits, vegetables, flowers, birds, trees, boats, sunsets, insects, people, and more — to teach the concept of color. For example, to illustrate the color of blue, children see Vincent van Gogh's Vincent's House at Arles that shows a house with a blue sky backdrop as well as Ando Hiroshige's The Sea at Satta in Suruga Province that features a light blue sea.

The simple text focuses attention almost entirely on the paintings, which range from the work of old masters to contemporary talents, and notes on the artwork can be found at the back of the book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Introduce Your Kids to Art - Great Book!
As a mom of a preschooler (and baby), I'm always looking for ways to expose my 3-year-old son to great art without boring him, and this book is perfect! I've bought other art-related kids books, and they were not captivating like this one is. The text has gentle rhyme, and my son really got into the different paintings. The "Biographical Notes" section has more information on the artists if you've forgotten your college Art History (like me!), and my son found it interesting, too. I really liked the message at the end of the book, "...And nobody sees the world like you." I plan on making this book my new gift for everyone -- for new babies, for my son's friends' birthday gifts, holidays, etc. It would be great for kids of all ages, really. You will love this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Published in association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The much anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Can You Find It?

In Can You Find It, Too? children approach art as detectives, browsing through 20 beautifully reproduced paintings in search of more than 150 details that are fun to find. With works from renowned institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and featuring art by renowned artists from all over the world, the search is on-for a musical horse, a nest of baby birds, even an artist's signature in worms! AUTHOR BIO: Judith Cressy has a degree in elementary art education and lives in New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world's leading cultural institutions, home to more than 2 million works of art. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

art for youth
I checked out this book from the library because, as an adult, I felt I didn't know enough about paintings to appreciate them fully when I visited an art gallery. This book briefly covers a large number of aspects of art including color, perspective, portraits, and landscape. The paintings used as examples are many and varied and they are beautifully reproduced. I learned many things but as I read, I came up with many more questions the book did not answer. However, I am a 36-year-old college graduate. I believe that the book is quite informative for its recommended age group: 9-12. I am getting a copy for my artistic nephew's tenth birthday. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Get to know this great art book (and the whole series)!
The books in this series are the best books I've seen to introduce children to great artists. "Getting to Know Great Artists" books bring to life the person behind the painting with fun cartoons about his life. Why did Rembrandt start painting? What's so great about his paintings? This book makes kids care about the man and his art. Your kids will wind up knowing more about Rembrandt than most adults ever will! The combination of cartoons with color photographs of the artist's paintings makes the book lively to look at. The text is interesting and easy to read. The artist's greatest works are shown within the context they were made: what was going on in the artist's life, how the work was received by society at the time. I recommend this whole series of "Getting to Know Great Artists" very highly. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Edgar Degas as the least impressionistic Impressionist
One of the most interesting things about Mike Venezia's look at Edgar Degas is how much we learn about the world of art at the time Degas was painting. In the middle of this volume there is a nice distinction between the Neoclassical art of painters like Jacques Louis David with the Romantic artists like Eugene Delacroix. Then we get a concise look at the Impressionists and while Degas was considered a leader of the movement it is clear that his work was decidedly different from Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and the rest. Then there is the work Degas did with photography as a way of rethinking composition and his work with prints, the latter done with Mary Cassatt. My favorite volumes in the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series have been those that have given me insights into the work of a particular artist. This look at Degas does not exactly do that, but it has furthered by art appreciation endeavor, which would be a good thing. There are reproductions of 20 of the artist's works in this book as well as representative ones of key contemporaries. Contextualization is one of Venezia's strengths, even more so than the cartoons for which he is probably best known. As intended, this is a fun series that manages to work in some educational type stuff along the way.. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Learn why El Greco painted those stretched out people
From time to time I have heard about various hypotheses concerning physical ailments that would explain the striking artwork of Domenikos Theotokopoulos, known as El Greco ("the Greek") when he became a famous painter in Spain. But Mike Venezia explains the effect in terms of El Greco creating movement by twisting and stretching out the figures in his paintings. Part of his distinctive technique involved using crackling, electric colors and mysterious lighting. Tracing his journey from Greece to Spain, Venezia looks at how El Greco was influenced by Venetian artists like Titian and Tintoretto, and provides examples of the work of those artists to help young readers understand the point. There is a nice comparison offered between paintings of "The Assumption fo the Virgin" by both Titian and El Greco. The book ends with some nice analysis of the "Burial of Count Orgaz."

What I really like about Venezia's "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artist" series is that it focuses on art appreciation, and explaining the uniqueness of each artist, more than it does on their biography. Of course, it is the latter that usually serves as the inspiration for Venezia's humorous cartoons. There are over two dozen such books in this series and they are a wonderful way of introducing young child (and some adults) to the wonderful world of art.

El Greco for kids
"El Greco," by Mike Venezia, is a visually striking introduction to the life and work of this great artist. Venezia uses reproductions of classic paintings, a simple but compelling text, and his own humorous cartoons to bring El Greco and his world to life. This book is part of a series designed to introduce the world's great artists to children.

"El Greco" begins with the great painter's birth on the island of Crete in the 16th century, and takes the reader along on El Greco's travels through Europe. Not only does the book include many full-color reproductions of El Greco's works, but it also includes reproductions of works by artists who influenced him. We get a fascinating portrait of El Greco as a family man, traveler, and artistic innovator. Venezia's cartoons provide entertaining complements to the text and reproductions.

This is a truly beautiful and educational book. El Greco's remarkable use of color and light, and his passionate treatment of the human form give his work both visual and emotional impact after all these centuries. If your child has an interest in art, this book would make a good addition to the family library. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

To the point!
I have bought this book a few times, and I always end up giving it away to parents, so I'm ordering it again today. What makes it so good: Linda L. Louis is a brilliant art educator of young children, she's exact and to the point. This book will help get you into your children's art work. You'll know how to talk to them about their art - and that it's not about saying: "beautiful, pretty, I like it", which can actually be unhelpful to the child at work. But comments like: "I see you made a really fast line around some red dots" etc. helps the child connect to his/her art and want to explore further. I had the wonderful luck of having Linda L. Louis as a teacher, when I studied to become an art teacher. This book is really a little gem, full of her insights. Enjoy

It had beautiful pictures and was nicely written.
It makes you want to paint even though you could be doing an other hobby.It has wonderful illustrations that were done by kids too.

Five stars for this "how to paint" book for children.
Basketball star, Patrick Ewing, and art educator Linda L. Louis have teamed together to produce a colorful book designed to encourage youngsters to put paint to paper and to express themselves through the techniques ofthe paintbrush."In the Paint" begins with an introduction byMr. Ewing that provides an account of his early childhood interest indrawing and painting, tells how he diligently practiced his hobby in thesame way that he later diligently practiced and refined his talents on thebasketball court.He realized an early dream when he graduated fromGeorgetown University with a degree in Fine Arts.The book goes on toteach the basics of painting to young people, how to gather the neededmaterials, how to mix paint to achieve every shade of color, how to selectand handle brushes, how to choose what to paint and how to paint it. Addressed to youngsters, it is nevertheless an invaluable instructionalbook for teachers and parents alike.Of particular interest to them willbe the concluding section written by Ms. Louis, "Tips for Parents andTeachers".Chock full of paintings by young students themselves, itis remarkable that this clearly written and beautifully decorated book canbe offered at such a low price.

A wonderful guide for parents, teachers and the kids!
Parents and teachers will learn how to set just the right conditions allowing their children to make paintings using their own "voices", expressing their own ideas and making their own images.... and the kids will have great fun as they paint their hearts out!

More than five stars
How come I can only give this book five stars?This book deserves at least ten!This book is invaluable for someone like me (I am a student teacher) who is not used to talking to children about their art.Threecheers for Linda L.Louis and Patrick Ewing!!! ... Read more

Book Description

"The little baby first perceives light and color as differentiated shades of brightness. Only when light and color work upon the eye does it become a perfected organ of sight."

The stimulation of active imagination and creativity is a vital factor in a child’s development. This essential, practical guide for parents and teachers is filled with colorful examples and shows that painting with children is more than just a form of self-expression. Müller encourages and attempts to understand children’s fantasies through their artwork.

Painting with Children contains sections on the "moral effects of color," the experience of colors, preparation, color stories and poems, panting with plant colors, painting the moods and seasons of nature, and much more. ... Read more

Book Description

Each FANDEX FAMILY FIELD GUIDE is a hand-held deck of knowledge that contains 50 individually die-cut cards hinged together. FANDEX PAINTERS is a short course in Western art. From Giotto, whorevolutionized painting by giving his figures three-dimensionality, to Andy Warhol and his famous soup cans, it's an artist-by-artist chronology. Featuring portraits, self-portraits and photographs, paintings and details, it brings art's evolution to your fingertips.

Also in the series: MYTHOLOGY, BIRDS, 50 STATES, CIVIL WAR, CATS, DOGS, PRESIDENTS, TREES, WILDFLOWERS, COMPOSERS, MUMMIES, EXPLORERS, THE BODY, SHAKESPEARE, and BIBLE. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

color your own Matisse
This book is great! I've used it with first - third graders in class. It helps them become familiar with the artists work, and they also enjoy using it for tracing.

color your own Matisse
This book is great! I have used it with children in my classroom (ages 6-9 years). It gives them exposure to the work of Matisse, while the coloring part also allows them to find the details. It is also great to use as a tracing tool, or for patterning. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Meet Jackson Pollack.....
Award winning authors, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan introduce a whole new generation to the brillance of painter, Jackson Pollock as they focus on just two months in the artist's life, and the creation of one of his most famous paintings, No. 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist). Based on firsthand accounts from friends and family, and often using the painter's own words and quotes, this well researched and enlightening picture book biography lets the reader get into Pollock's head, hear his thoughts, feel his energy and joy as he works, and actually peek over his shoulder as he paints. "An athlete with a paintbrush, he uses his whole body to make the painting. Layers build with each gesture, new colors emerging, blending, and disappearing into the wet surface. He swoops and leaps like a dancer, paint trailing from a brush that doesn't touch the canvas..." Their eloquent and lyrical prose is engaging and complemented by Robert Andrew Parker's bold, bright, and busy watercolors. Together word and art paint a dazzling and evocative portrait of the artist, his work, and his times. "Some people will be shocked when they see what he has created. Some Angry. Some confused. Some excited. Some filled with a happiness they can hardly explain. But everyone will agree- Jackson Pollock is doing something original, painting in a way that no one has ever seen before..." Perfect for youngsters 7-11, Action Jackson includes a short biographical sketch at the end to augment the story and fascinating notes and sources about his life and paintings. This is non-fiction at its very best. Kudos to Greenberg, Jordan, and Parker ... Read more

Book Description

Find the rogue painting and save the exhibition and the City Gallery! Children will have hours of fun exercising their powers of observation as they spot the clues that reveal which artist painted each picture. While they have fun solving the mystery, they"ll be enjoying an inspiring introduction to thirty-two of the world"s greatest modern artists.

The split pages make this book a fun, interactive experience, rich with fascinating facts about the paintings and the painters and their techniques—all the ingredients needed to inspire a lifelong interest in modern art. Also included is a glossary of art terms. ... Read more