"Phaidon's child-friendly version of its staggeringly successful The Art Book goes into far more detail than the original. Instead of a one-artist-to-a-page format, double-page spreads are devoted to 30 works from the fifteenth-century to the present, allowing for a wealth of related imagery. Obviously designed to fire young imaginations into looking beyond the frame, the template would improve many 'ground-up' art encyclopedias... Designed to spark creative responses in young readers of all ages, whether their thing is painting and drawing, counting, dressing up or solving puzzles. There's even the possibility that, sitting side by side with their respective tomes, kids might learn more than their parents will about the subject."—Time Out
"A perfect introduction to art for parents and children to enjoy together... Simple, clear and fun."—Guardian
"A delightful book that will encourage readers, young and old, to see beyond the obvious."—The Good Book Guide
"Is it possible that a nine-year-old child will nag their parents to read them a book about the adventures of Gilbert & George, Cindy Sherman and Leonardo da Vinci rather than the latest Jacqueline Wilson or Harry Potter? If it is written with the style, humour and spirit of this mind expanding art book for kids, then the answer is definitely yes... It's really good fun and perfect for junior school kids into art - and any parent scared off by the usual pretentious approach to art appreciation... Very inspiring. Your kids will be making Jackson Pollock-style creations out of mashed potato and ketchup on the kitchen ceiling before you know it."—Guardian
"Should become a childhood treasure... Hopefully, the delight gained from peering into such large and beautiful reproductions, as well as the enlightenment gained from a text that respects the reader's own response, will encourage children to carry a love of art with them into adulthood."—RA (Royal Academy of Arts, London) Magazine
"The ideal book to introduce children to the great painters, as well as more contemporary artists."—Junior
"As a catalyst for discussions about everything and anything, many parents will find this a wonderful book to share with their child from a far younger age [than 7+]... This book asks children to consider colour, form, texture and pattern alongside far deeper questions, such as can you paint noise or feelings? With beautiful reproductions and stimulating prompts, it's a book you'll return to again and again."—Junior
"Phaidon's The Art Book For Children is also a real gem. Next to an illustration of Gilbert and George's famous living sculpture, it asks, "would you be able to keep a straight face?" whilst demanding to know of Christo's Pont Neuf Wrapped, "who allowed Christo and Jeanne-Claude to wrap this famous Parisian bridge in fabric? Did they sneak up one night while no one was looking?" If only, one can't help thinking, all art books were so much fun."—Independent
"The Art Book For Children draws young readers first into the subject, then deftly into the form, of paintings from the Mona Lisa to Warhol's Marilyn Monroe."—The Times
"...It is stylish, and exciting without being silly."—Sunday Times Culture
"Stylish, welcoming introduction to art, covering an amazing range of artists from Leonardo to Gilbert and George. The book is bursting with exuberant questions (how do you paint feelings?) and determined to open young eyes and minds."—Observer
"Great fun to read…The tone is cheerfully irreverent and unpatronising."—Glasgow Herald
"An excellent introduction to the world's greatest artists... Classy and thought-provoking."—Daily Mail
"This is a great book for children and parents or grandparents to enjoy together."—Carlisle News & Star
The Art Book for Children by Gilda Williams Ruggi presents classic and contemporary works in a fun way that makes art accessible. Each spread or two in the oversize, paper-over-board book introduces a different artist and invites kids to think about the works in unconventional ways. For Cindy Sherman's tweaked self-portraits (in which she poses in staged photographs), for instance, the text asks, "If you dress up, do you just change your clothes and paint your face... or do you also change the way you behave?" Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Gr 4-7-Large color reproductions expose readers to a wide variety of art, from the best-known paintings of the 14th and 15th centuries to contemporary photographs and "wrap" art. European, Asian, and American art is included in the more than 30 discussed works. Illustrations are arranged to fill single pages, spreads, and small squares. The text, at times calligraphic, becomes part of the art as it invites viewers to take more than a cursory look. Questions encourage readers to observe details, while statements of opinion help to provoke new thoughts and elicit emotional responses to the pieces. Because the book is not arranged by chronology, medium, or style, readers have the option to skip around, to pick and choose the works to study-much like visiting favorite paintings in a museum. A concluding section gives the size, location, and dates of the works and the artists' birth and death dates. The book will stimulate discussion and a higher level of appreciation of art.-Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.