As in Mojave (1988) and Heartland (1989), the land speaks here in first-person verse enumerating its qualities, fauna, geological history, etc. Least successful of the three, this text is awkward and over-earnest. Minor, however, captures some of the high peaks' awesome nobility in his broad, carefully detailed paintings. A valid plea for the environment that will move those not put off by the pretentious text.~(Picture book. 5-10)
Pub Date: March 15, 1991
ISBN: 0-06-021639-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1991
Turner continues her well-regarded series of ``Portraits of Women Artists'' with an introduction to the Caldecott Honor medalist Ringgold, whose picture-book illustrations are a direct extension of her paintings, fabric constructions, and (especially) the vibrant story quilts that powerfully re-create her African-American heritage. In outlining Ringgold's life, the author includes childhood details and b&w photos that will interest young readers, but—perhaps respecting the artist's privacy—doesn't convey her dynamic individuality; but in some detail, Turner explore's Ringgold's ideas, as expressed in her art, including several high-quality color reproductions (fully attributed) plus schematic drawings that identify the figures represented. (Biography. 6-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1993
ISBN: 0-316-85652-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1993
As is true of her previous books, Micklethwait (I Spy a Freight Train, p. 902, etc.) begins with the premise that art is accessible to everyone. By asking simple questions and playing easy matching games, readers learn to identify basic emotions and messages that are communicated through the universal language of images. Viewers are asked to find the hoop players in both Brueghel's ``Children's Games'' and a Japanese print of the same name, or to compare van Gogh's ``Bedroom at Arles'' with Lichtenstein's later rendition of the same room. Emotions, faces, smells, and animal noises are some of the ways Micklethwait invites children into these works of art. The color reproductions are excellent; a large format and roomy design allow readers to explore the paintings in detail. Included are well-known works and less familiar ones, with an emphasis on Western art. The most significant segment may be when readers are asked to make up their own stories of what's going on in several paintings. The stories behind the paintings are included, but the message is that what readers see in a painting has validity, that art need not be an elite subject. (Nonfiction. 5-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 23, 1996
ISBN: 0-7894-1003-6
Page Count: 45
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1996
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
