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Looking at Art
Look!
Body Language in Art
by Gillian Wolfe
(Frances Lincoln)
As the name suggests, this book looks closely at people in paintings,
talking about how their position and facial expression helps us to know
what they are feeling. As well as encouraging children to look at pictures
in more detail, it also provides an interesting introduction to body language
in real life. The seventeen paintings studied cover a wide range of periods
and styles and there are suggestions with each one to encourage readers
to develop their own art.
Buy
from Amazon
Dan's
Angel
A Detective's Guide to the Language of Paintings
by Alexander Sturgis and Lauren Child
(Frances Lincoln)
Dan wanted to be a detective. He had his own magnifying glass and he was
always looking for clues. When he visits an art gallery, the Angel Gabriel
flies out of one of the paintings to show Dan how to search for clues
in the pictures on display. This enjoyable story encourages children to
search for small details and symbolism in a wide range of different paintings.
Ages 4-9+
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from Amazon
Dog's Night
by Meredith Hooper and Allan Curless
(Frances Lincoln)
According to this story, one night each year the dogs from the paintings
in the National Gallery climb out of their pictures and run riot round
the building. But one night, things go wrong and some of the dogs end
up in the wrong pictures. This funny story is a good way to spark children's
interest in art especially if you are planning to take them to the National
Gallery.
Ages 4-8
Buy
from Amazon
Oxford
First Book of Art by Gillian Wolfe
(Oxford University Press)
This introduction to art for young children includes images of a variety
of paintings, drawings, sculptures and textiles from around the world
and from many periods of history. The pictures are grouped in themes (mother
and child, shapes, patterns etc) with text which encourages children to
look at each one more closely and to experiment with some of the ideas
in their own artwork. The index is useful with the titles of the pictures
in italics to make them easy to find. An interesting book which can be
enjoyed by artists and non-artists alike, individually or in a small group.
| Interest age 7-13 Reading age 8+ | (with thanks to Ros) |
Discover
Great Paintings by Lucy Micklethwait (Dorling Kindersley)
This excellent book looks at a selection of paintings in a way which is easy to access and interesting to use. The paintings have been chosen to interest children and the questions on each one encourage young readers to become art detectives - looking for specific objects and thinking about the scene it depicts. Notes around the picture provide the answers and there is also interesting background information on both the artist and the painting itself. This approach works well, combining fact and investigation to stimulate interest in what is behind and within a picture rather than merely looking at it aesthetically.
Ages 7-adult including children with special needs.
May tempt reluctant readers
| . | (with thanks to Ros) |
Looking
at Pictures by Joy Richardson (A&C Black)
Based on pictures from the National Gallery, this book looks at some of the techniques artists use as well as the background of the paintings themselves. Although it is very informative, its layout and style is unlikely to attract young readers who are not already interested in the subject. Best for older readers who are enthusiastic about art and also a useful addition to the school library.
| Ages 12+ | (with thanks to Ros) |
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