Picture Book Wednesday: Art Books

Just a few books about art:

A little boy doesn't want to go to an art museum. Art is boring. There are so many pieces of art that he doesn't like, BUT... there are few that catch his eye. And after that, well...

I really loved this book and how everything changes. There's so much to talk about here - how art makes you feel, how the artist comes up with ideas, different styles of art, and what kind of art you (the reader) like to create. There is a section at the back of the book that talks about different movements in art. 

Works of art on one page and Miffy enjoying the same activity on the other page. 

I love how this book asks the reader questions. I love how Miffy's page is simple illustrations next to works of art. At the end of the book, there's a list of artists with their work shown.

There's a famous clock that was once part of a very busy train station. But the trains became too long for the station, and it was abandoned. Years passed. The clock wasn't forgotten. And it became a central piece in a new art museum.

I really love how this book showed how the clock went from train station center piece to darkness to an exhibit in an art museum. There is an afterword with more details about the building and reconstruction. I love the illustrations. There's a lot of pour over here.  

Middle Grade Review: Each and Every Spark

 

Penny's family moved to Paris for a year. Instead of being excited, she's miserable and lonely. Her mother has a new job and Penny misses the time they spent together. When her mother and Penny see a hidden painting, Penny spies a letter. She steals the letter, which leads her to research the sender.

Penny discovers the story of two sisters during WWII in France who were scared, hungry, cold, and missing their father. These girls joined the Resistance. Life was never the same.

My Thoughts: I loved this dual POV and dual timeline. The two different timelines kept me turning the pages. I loved the story about the two sisters trying to survive the war. I felt terrible for them and all they experienced. i loved seeing Paris and wandering the streets. I love how the two stories came together in the end.

Cover Thoughts: I love how they captured both characters

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library.

Warning: This book might make you want to wander the streets of Paris too!

Review: Roommate Agreement

 

Blair's excited about her summer experience with coding at college. She's going to be living with her two best friends and it's going to be amazing. Until she discovers last minute that they don't want to live with her. They don't want to be friends anymore.

Blair's devastated. This was supposed to be the perfect summer; they had it all planned out. She searching for any last minute housing, thrilled to discover an apartment that still needs a roommate. She's less than thrilled to discover that her brother's best friend is living there. 

She begs Jamie not to tell her brother as he will tell her parents and ruin everything. Jamie is not happy keeping a secret, but he reluctantly does, after blackmailing Blair. 

Blair struggles with her intensive class. The only bright spot in her life is her art class. But even that is stressing her out. Can she survive the summer?

My Thoughts: I really felt for Blair. She went through it this summer. But I loved her new relationships with her roommates. I love how she stood up for herself. Blair's fat and she owns it. Her family is terrible - her mother sides with the no nonsense step-father. Her computer class has a terrible teacher and terrible classmates. I hate how the class is set up for failure; that's no way to teach. All this drama made me cry at the end. But the book does have some bright spots. I love Blair's relationship with Jamie. Don't sleep on this one

Cover: Not my favorite 

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your public library teen collection

Picture Book Review: The Apprenticeship of Andrew Wyeth

 

This book showcases the early years of Andrew Wyeth as he forms his painting style.

I confess, I didn't know much about Andrew Wyeth if anything. This was an interesting book and it did make me do a bit of research after reading it. I find it fascinating that his father was an illustrator. Several of his siblings were also painters. I do like it when picture books make me curious enough about the subject to do more research. I loved the illustrations in this book. 

Picture Book Review: MousterWorks

 

Two mice and their grandmother visit a museum and see lots of famous paintings. But none of them have any cheese and poor Pepin is hungry. 

The two mice are hidden in each work of art, making this book one to pour over the gorgeous illustrations. 

The author has a website, with more information about the pictures chosen, her art process, and the mice. 

Middle Grade Monday: Meet Me on Mercer Street

Kacie comes back to town after spending the summer with her cousins to discover that everything has changed. Her best friend has moved away without saying goodbye. The grocery store her family owned is being turned into a chain store. What is happening to her neighborhood? Kacie has all these questions, but no one is giving her answers. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book and it's exploration of what makes a community. I felt terrible for Kacie discovering that her friend left without saying goodbye. But I love how she found a new friend. I love how she draws everything and then is able to share things that happened. And that ending! It's a delightful story. This is a hybrid novel - half novel and half graphic novel.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Why I read this book: The tagline hooked me (Harriet the Spy meets Front Desk)

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your graphic novel collection.

Middle Grade Review: Botticelli's Apprentice

Mella wants to be more than just a chicken girl. She would love to be an apprentice, but only boys are allowed. She's been teaching herself. Her sketches are so good that an apprentice boy steals them and passes them off as his own. 

She gets mad at him, but she gets even when she is allowed to go to the market for Botticelli. She makes a good impression in the market, but the stray dog she finds ruins her work. How can Mella prove her worth to Botticelli?

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. I loved the unexpected friendship between Mella and Datus. I loved how they started to help each other learn. I loved all the art moments; they were fascinating. While females were not allowed to do many things; I admired how Mella stood up for herself. The ending was wonderful. 

Cover Thoughts: Eye-catching

Source: My Library

Why I Read this Book: I love renaissance art

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library collections. 

Middle Grade Review: How to Draw a Secret

 

Cindy loves art; she's excited when her art teacher shares an art contest. But the assignment is all about family. Cindy's family is broken. Her father's been living in Taiwan. Her parents are separated, but she's not supposed to tell anyone. When her grandmother dies, her mothers and sisters travel to Taiwan.

There she struggles to learn about her family - why her parents separated and why her father disappeared. No one wants to talk about it. She's stuck in her art project until she can uncover answers.

My Thoughts: I felt so bad for Cindy. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug. She wanted to share her feelings with her friends, but she wasn't allowed to. I love how she, her sisters, and her mom explored Taiwan. They had such a great time eating food and being together. I loved how she explored her art contest assignment. I loved the illustrations. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel for your school and public library's collection

Picture Book Review: Black Joy

 

Jaden's neighborhood has a worn down brick wall. Jaden wants to revitalize the wall. He sees love everywhere. Everyone wants to make their mark on the wall. 

I love how this book takes art and makes it a community event. I love how this book talks about the different ways to love each other - and especially yourself. The mural looks amazing and full of love. What a great message! 

Blog Tour: Bodega Cats

 

Miguel finds a cat who is cold and hungry. He brings the cat inside the family bodega, hoping to convince his parents to keep the cat. After the vet gives the cat a clean bill of health and the cat receives a bath, Miguel is able to keep the cat.

The cat is named Lolo. at first Lolo in unsure about the new situation, but soon begins to thrive in his new home. Miguel shares his secrets with his cat.

His biggest secret: Miguel wants to study art but his parents don't believe in studying art. They want him to work hard in school and at the family bodega. 

My Thoughts: This was a great story about family, rescuing cats, being brave, and following your dreams. Both Miguel and Lolo have perspectives in this story. I loved how both Miguel and Lolo needed help being brave and standing up for themselves. I enjoyed the comic strips about Super Cat. The illustrations were cute too. I loved how passionate Miguel is about art. I'm hoping that this is the first one in a new series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A cute story for your school and public library's collection. Highly Recommended.  

Picture Book Review: The Artist

 

One dinosaur love painting until something goes wrong.

This is a great story about making a mistake and moving on from it. It's about being creative and burning out and filling the well again. It sends a great message about how no one is perfect, but we all deserve a second chance. 

Upcoming Review: The Art of Love and Lies

 

Rosanna can reproduce a work of art that most people can not tell is fake. Her employer sells her art to people who love to show off the art in their parlor. 

When an art exhibit opens in Manchester, she's delighted to see all the works of art. It opens her to new pieces to copy. 

And she meets a man there. Martin Harrison is in charge of the security. The two meet up often and spend their time flirting and strolling through the exhibit. Mr. Harrison is unaware of Rosanna's job. 

Given his past with criminals, he has a very black and white view of the law. In his eyes, Rosanna would be a criminal. Her forgeries deceive people. 

She comes clean to him, as she shares the exhibit has been robbed. Unbeknownst to her, her forgeries are hanging in their place. 

My Thoughts: I'm a sucker for books about art and heists. This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the flirtation between Martin and Rosanna. I loved the descriptions of the art showcased, the moments that Rosanna was creating art, and the Queen attending the exhibit. The heist was great - lots of misdirect and secrets. Reading The Art of Love and Lies is a delightful way to spend the afternoon.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Release Date: August 1

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: A great romance for your collection. 

Book Lists: YA Artists

 

Yesterday, I talked about a few instructional drawing books. 

Which got me to thinking about YA books with Artist Characters.

I myself dabble in a few crafts, so I always love reading about other artists. 

Book List:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

Belles by Jen Calonita

All American Girl by Meg Cabot

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonia Sones

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older

Not Pictured:

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley 

Your Destination is on the Left by Lauren Spieller 

Are there other artist books you would recommend?

Picture Book Wednesday: Mary Blair's Unique Flair

Mary Blair worked for Disney - at a time when not many women did. She's responsible for the creation of the It's a Small World ride.

Mary Blair worked for Disney - at a time when not many women did. She's responsible for the creation of the It's a Small World ride.

This picture book biography talks about her working on movies like Dumbo and Lady and the Tramp. She left Disney, but ended up traveling with Walt Disney and the company on a trip to South America. I love that the trip inspired her creativity, her use of colors, and opened her eyes to power of possibilities. I love that the children influenced her. A really great book about believing in magic, the inspiration of art, and colors. I loved the art work and how the illustrator was inspired by Mary Blair.