Art Profiles For Kids
Book Reviews
Booklist, January 2008
On Pierre-Auguste Renoir
From the Art Profiles for Kids series, this book introduces the life and work of Renoir. Though the book is relatively short, the text is smoothly written, and quotes from the artist convey a sense of his personality. The glossy pages allow for good reproductions of paintings as well as a few photos; however, most of the illustrations are small. Back matter includes a glossary, chronology, chapter notes for quotes, lists of books and Internet sites, and a “Timeline in History.” Though other books on library shelves are better choices for looking at reproductions of Renoir’s paintings, this one offers a concise, readable account of the artist’s life.
School Library Journal, January 2008
On Canaletto and Vincent Van Gogh
These books offer well-documented information for teens doing reports. Each volume covers the painter’s childhood, training, travels, influences, and historical context. The chronological chapters build a survey of the artists’ oeuvres, including the style and subject matter of their works and past and present critical reaction. Introductory chapters are designed to draw readers in with a character or anecdote, e.g., the sale of Van Gogh’s Portrait of Dr. Gachet for $82.5 million in 1990 and its subsequent disappearance. One-page “FYI” sections offer expanded coverage of selected topics. Of the two titles, Canaletto is more challenging to read as Rice’s language is more sophisticated than Whiting’s. To his credit, Whiting defines subject-specific terms in context, provides pronunciation tips, and explains potentially unfamiliar events or people. Van Gogh covers much of the same material found in Jen Green’s Vincent van Gogh (Watts, 2002); it allows easier access to bits of information than Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s Vincent van Gogh (Delacorte, 2001). Compact, well-researched overviews of important figures in the history of art.
