Today's read hits the shelves in about a week and is aimed at the very young readers out there, ages 2 to 4. One glance at the cover, and it's clear these pages will hit the theme 'Peace'. And how? Well, this is where it gets really interesting. The author uses famous works from the artworld to highlight aspects of peace. Will this combination really be for this age group? Let's take a look and find out!
MY ART BOOK OF PEACE
by Shana Gozansky
Phaidon Press
Picture Book
48 pages
ages 2 to 4
COMING APRIL 15th!!!
A tender, lyrical celebration of peace in all its forms, this keepsake children’s book introduces the concept of peace in a new and accessible way: through art
Pairing 35 famous artworks with charming, read-aloud text, My Art Book of Peace illustrates the complex idea of peace through familiar scenarios, such as finding peace in the company of friends and making peace through kind gestures. The book’s heartwarming words and colorful design invite children to connect their everyday experiences to those they see in the artworks – allowing them to truly engage with the book’s theme, while building an appreciation of art.
My Art Book of Peace features a diverse array of vibrant paintings, drawings, and sculptures by famous artists ranging from Hilma af Klint and Franz Marc to Joy Labinjo and Noah Davis. With each expertly curated image accompanied by the work’s title and artist’s name, this book is sure to become the foundation of a child’s art book collection.
Featuring sturdy pages and an eye-catching, stylish cover with holographic foil, t his luxurious-feeling board book is a beautiful gift for babies, toddlers, and young children, as well as new and expecting parents. It is a stunning addition to Phaidon’s bestselling My Art Books series of beautiful board books, which explore big feelings through famous artworks and were selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2023.
MY TIDBITS
A wide variety of artwork combines with simple prose to highlight the meanings of peace.
These pages combine two directions into one message: peace. The book begins with a simple text, each page only holding a few short words to keep it simple and fitting for the youngest age group. The words mention various forms of peace and a broad array of ways in which it is demonstrated and shown: friendship, hugs, calm moments, and the like. To bring more emphasis to each word and let the atmosphere sink in, the photograph of a work of art is placed directly above the word. These include everything from sculptures to paintings and more. Each comes from a famous artist, and the works range from well-known to lesser known ones. At the very bottom of the page, the name of the work and artist's name is given. At the end of the book, each piece of art is picture again with a little information.
This book invites young listeners to explore and works especially well when combined with interactions of the older individual, the person reading it aloud to them, since they can express the thoughts and feelings they see in the artwork. No doubt, some images will connect better with readers than others, but then, art is always a very individual experience. These pages to a lovely job at bringing readers into the realm of artwork and lets them gently explore what they see with a nudge of direction through the text and theme.
And here she is...
Shana Gozansky wears a lot of hats. She writes books for kids and their grownups, directs plays for everyone, and coaches parents. She is the author of Phaidon’s My Art Books series, How to Be a Witch (with Gabrielle Balkan), and has more books on the horizon. She holds an MFA in Directing from the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs and is a graduate of Bard College. She lives in Massachusetts with her spouse, tween, and a dog named Miss Piggy. Visit www.shanagozansky.com to find out more.
No comments:
Post a Comment