When Marian Sang

It was her range of notes

that caused all the commotion.

With one breath she sounded like rain,

sprinkling high notes in the morning sun.

And with the next she was thunder,

resounding the deep in a dark sky. (Ryan) 

As this Lenten Season comes to a close, I recommend the moving bio of Marian Anderson called When Marian Sang written by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Brian Selznnick (c. 2002).  Our library includes the audio recording, making it a spellbinding experience to hear Anderson as she sings in that majestic contralto voice . . . her voice was distinct -- strong and velvety and able to climb more than twenty-four notes (Ryan).

Listen to one of America's greatest singers; listen and be moved by the story of Marian Anderson, accompanied by her remarkable voice singing songs ranging from spirituals to opera.

Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939

Mountain Brook

"Mountain Brook"
by Elizabeth Coatsworth

Because of the steepness,
the streamlet runs white,
narrow and broken
as lightning by night.

Because of the rocks,
it leaps this way and that,
fresh as a flower,
quick as a cat.





from Snow Toward Evening: A Year in a River Valley / Nature Poems Selected by Josette Frank with Paintings by Thomas Locker.

The First Thanksgiving

I've introduced the magnificent paintings of Thomas Locker to you.  Here's his take on The First Thanksgiving written by Jean Craighead George (c. 1993).

Wind Has Shaken Autumn Down

Wind has shaken autumn down

left it sprawling on the ground,

shawling all in gold below,

waiting for the hush of snow.

~  Tony Johnston

from Snow Toward Evening: A Year in a River Valley / Nature Poems Selected by Josette Frank with Paintings by Thomas Locker.

Sky Tree

The reason you should purchase or check out Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art by Thomas Locker with Candace Christiansen (c. 1995) isn't because it tells such a wonderful story.  There's no reason to turn cartwheels over this text.  The real showstoppers are Locker's illustrations.  I can't think of a better way to tour the season.  And rather than writing about and describing them, I'm going to show you some selections:

Home

I brought Thomas Locker's HOME: A Journey Through America (c. 1998) home from the library, laid it out on the coffee table, and waited.  My youngest picked it up, poured over it, and came running to me: "Mommy, this pictures look beautifully!"

That afternoon the eldest came home from school, poured over the new-found book, and said, "Momma, you have got to look at these pictures!  These are my favorites."

I think old and young alike are amazed that Thomas Locker shares his magnificent oil on canvas landscape paintings not only in art galleries or museums but in childrens' books for all to enjoy.  Seriously, introduce your child to the fine art of Thomas Locker.  You may be astonished at the art appreciation that issues out of his/her mouth.

more by Don Freeman

Okay, folks, I've discovered many of you out there who are pretty wild about Don Freeman.  Who isn't?!  All at our house have really enjoyed your recommendations!  And since we've had so much fun reading more Don Freeman stories, I wanted to pass them along to you, my readers.  Our favorite is still Dandelion, kindly recommended by Tarin Lewis, with a close runner-up of Mop Top.  And who doesn't have a copy of Corduroy?  But lately, we've read and re-read Norman the Doorman and Pet of the Met many, many thanks to Sarah Ellison Murray's recommendations.

Let's begin with Norman the Doorman, isn't that just a fun title to say aloud?!  Norman the mouse serves as an incognito doorman for the Majestic Museum of Art where he doubles as tour guide of the art pieces hidden away in storage.  He dreams of touring the upstairs floors of the art museum.  Meanwhile, he paints in his free time.

Similarly, in Pet of the Met by both Lydia and Don Freeman Maestro Petrini (also a mouse) serves as page turner for the prompter of the Metropolitan Opera House.  "During his spare time Maestro Petrini would put on his own opera performances with his family as the cast.  Of all the operas their favorite was The Magic Flute by Mozart."  Petrini's family dreams of seeing a live performance.

Freeman captivates his audience's attention in both stories by presenting characters with both a passion and a dream.  Then he inserts a hindrance to that dream, which in both books heightens the action and adventure.  As he captivates his young audience through his storyline, Freeman also exposes the arts in such a way that fosters intrigue -- the best way for cultivating arts interest/appreciation.  So check out Norman the Doorman and Pet of the Met and re-discover why we love Don Freeman.  To discover more about Don Freeman: check out the Don Freeman website.

Note: last fall, I had to sneak Norman the Doorman into my bag and back to the library to avoid any further late fees before the children discovered it missing.  We just checked it out again, and the children reacted as though they were reuniting with a long, lost friend.

The Nutcracker

I'm giving my mom all the credit for finding my favorite edition of The Nutcracker story, illustrated by Susan Jeffers (c. 2007).  Accordingly, she sat in Barnes & Noble for hours flipping through and reading various editions of The Nutcracker until she settled on this one.  Jeffers edits the original text (which is quite lengthy) to make it child friendly, and she intentionally illustrates it to reflect Tchaikovsky's ballet, making this a beautiful, age-appropriate gift for children.

Nana gave this copy to my daughter last Christmas to commemorate a momentous occasion: enjoying her first performance of the Nutcracker ballet with her momma.

What I like best about this book is how well Jeffers incorporates the ballet into the story, as you can see here.  Said daughter was quite delighted to find that the book mirrored what she had seen on stage.  Thank you Mom for such a delightful book; it's a real treasure!

N.C.Wyeth's Pilgrims

What a treat!!!  In N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims, acclaimed children's author Robert San Souci takes Newell Convers Wyeth's series of murals originally created for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York and gives them a voice with his thoroughly researched text (text copyright 1991 and illustrations copyright 1945).  Souci's succinct yet detailed account presents a thorough summary of events from the excellent contrast between the Pilgrims and the "strangers" to a factual synopsis of life in the village after the feast.

Wyeth's twelve paintings, although not entirely historically accurate, provide a visual feast.  For those of you unfamiliar with N.C. Wyeth, he is father to Andrew Wyeth and to a lineage of talented American artists.  Here's a website to quickly view some of his most recognizable children's book illustrations: click here.  And last, but certainly not least, the book's endpapers supplies a copy of the Mayflower's original passenger list, furnishing a fascinating historical read.

A Pilgrim father shows his son how to shuck corn.

James Mayhew

Rarely do we get to hear an artists' process of how he composes a work.  So I know you'll be pleased along with me when you read the story behind the composition of the Katie series straight from the author, James Mayhew, himself.  Check out his blog (http://jamesmayhew-katiespictureshow.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-it-all-began-part-six.html), and you'll find a talented illustrator whose personal story gives even more depth and meaning to the Katie series.  Now, I know you're going to want to check out Mayhew's Katie books!  And do let me know if you can get your hands on any that I haven't featured!

Art History

I was looking for some books in which to introduce famous works of art to my children.  Then one day as I eavesdropped -- accidentally, I might add . . . okay, maybe I was snooping a little after the cover caught my eye -- in another person's hold que at the library, I ran across the book Katie Meets the Impressionists.  Quickly, I scribbled the title down on a scrap of paper and came home to further research it.  This is what I discovered:

James Mayhew cleverly introduces specific periods, artists, and works of art to children through his  adventurous stories where the beguiling character, Katie, runs into "close calls" while jumping in and out of the art museum's paintings.  Note that Mayhew has published many more "Katie" books; these were the only ones I could get my hands on.

Katie Meets the Impressionists ~ focuses on the Impressionists painters and features: The Luncheon and Field of Poppies by Claude Monet; Girl with a Watering Can and Her First Evening Out by Pierre Auguste Renoir; The Blue Dancers by Edgar Degas.  I find the story and illustrations of this particular book the most charming in the series.

Katie and the Sunflowers ~ focuses on the Postimpressionists, specifically: Sunflowers and Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh; Breton Girls Dancing and Tahitian Pastorals by Paul Gauguin; and Still Life with Apples and Oranges by Paul Cezanne.  This is my second favorite story of the series.

Katie and the Mona Lisa ~ focuses on masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, specifically: Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, An Angel with a Lute by one of Leonardo's students, St. George and the Dragon by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, and The Lion of St. Mark by Vittore Carpaccio.

Katie's Sunday Afternoon ~ focuses on the Pointillists, specifically: Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Bathers at Asnieres, and Entree du port de Honfleur by Georges-Pierre Seurat; Woman Hanging up the Washing by Camille Pissarro; and Portrait of Felix Feneon by Paul Signac.

On another note, Dogs' Night by Meredith Hooper and illustrated by Allan Curless and Mark Burgess gives a fanciful introduction to paintings (4 specific) in the National Gallery in London.  As the story goes, each year the dogs jump out of their paintings for a frolic.  But this year, mayhem ensues when several return to the wrong paintings.

 

Note: These books are recommended for ages 4-8.

So readers, please weigh in with any other child friendly art history suggestions?  I'm just an eavesdropping novice in this genre.