Time to Make Art by Jeff Mack (Henry Holt and Co., 48 pages, grades K-5). A girl poses a variety of questions about art to artist. “Does it have to be perfect?” she asks Michelangelo, as he puts the finishing touches on the Sistine Chapel. “You can make your art any way you want,” he replies. “What if I can only draw stick figures?” she wants to know, to which a Paleolithic cave artist answers, “Then draw stick figures!” Colors, feelings, art materials, and subjects are all covered in a way that opens up art to everyone, with reinforcement from famous artists. Those artists all get thumbnail descriptions in the back, listed in the order they appear in the book.
This is both an excellent introduction to art history and an inspiring invitation to create art. The illustrations are cute, and it’s fun to try to identify the artists and their works. A few more resources for further exploration would have made a nice addition.
The Sunflowers: Vincent van Gogh’s Search for Beauty by Zahra Marwan (Feiwel and Friends, 40 pages, grades K-4). Vincent van Gogh’s favorite things to paint are sunflowers, which seem like happy spots of color in the gray city of Paris, even if they’re considered an inelegant subject for art. When he meets fellow artist Paul Gauguin, the two bond over the vibrant colors of each other’s paintings. Vincent moves from the city to a little yellow house in Arles, France, where he finds happiness that’s reflected in brighter, more colorful art. Some of his art finds its way onto the walls of his house, as he prepares for a joyful reunion with his friend Paul. When Paul arrives, he feels welcomed by the powerful paintings of sunflowers, and “He could feel the way it is to have a real friend.” Includes an author’s note with some additional information about Vincent and some thoughts about how art can be a powerful bond in creating friendships. This is a lovely celebration of art, friendship, and following your own heart, illuminated with van Gogh-inspired illustrations. It’s definitely not a biography, and I was sorry there wasn’t more biographical information in the back matter.
I heard about this book at the same time I learned of another biography about Vincent van Gogh, The Vincent van Gogh Atlas by Nienke Denekamp and René van Blerk, illustrated by Geert Gratama, Thames and Hudson, 160 pages, grades 5-8). I don’t know if it’s because this book was originally published in Europe, but I have struggled (unsuccessfully so far) to get it through interlibrary loan. From what I’ve read about it, it sounds like a real work of art filled with maps, letters, and reproductions of van Gogh paintings. I hope you will have greater success obtaining it than I have!