ART - CRAFTS - GAMES
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| BOOK | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCES | |
| ART | |||
GLOBAL ART: ACTIVITIES, PROJECTS AND INVENTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD By MaryAnn F. Kohl and Jean Potter Make history, culture and geography more inviting through art. Projects organized within
each continent by country or cultural group all with three different experience
levels. |
MAKING MAKE-BELIEVE: FUN PROPS, COSTUMES, AND CREATIVE PLAY IDEAS by Maryann F. Kohl It doesn't get better than this! One book- 125 ideas - hours of fun without TV! |
PRESCHOOL ART: IT'S THE PROCESS NOT THE PRODUCT by MaryAnn F. Kohl Every project has up to five icons to make the projects more useable and accessible for the artist, care-giver, teacher or parents and includes the author's favorites. The book
begins with The Basics. All the projects in the book build on these basics.
The remaining four chapters are arranged by seasons/months, age appropriateness
using 4 categories: drawing, painting, sculpting with dough and clay, and
crafts/constructing. |
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MathArts: EXPLORING MATH THROUGH ART FOR 3 TO 6 YEAR OLDS SEE SAMPLES or ORDER |
GOOD EARTH ART: Environmental Art For Kids Projects for kids of all ages. READ MORE or ORDER |
SCIENCE ARTS Explore science concepts through recipe-style science activities. All ages. READ MORE or ORDER |
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Alex Toys: My First Art Book & Easel: Color, Draw, Paint, Create!
Activity kit for young artists! Filled with activities that teach kids basic art techniques, such as how to mix colors, combine colors, cross-hatch and make textures. It comes with age-appropriate art supplies, including stackable finger crayons, chunky markers, paints, a paint brush and a magic wax crayon. Beautifully illistruated this self-contained kit has a mini easel to work on and closes up easily for on-the-go artists.
ORDER@AMAZON |
 Doodles at Breakfast by Deborah Zemke, Harriet Ziefert Personality-filled doodles from letters and numbers create animals, vehicles, wizards, instruments, etc. Step by step instructions (with visuals) make this a fun and easy project. Kid tested.
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Ages 10 and Up |
Fine Art Studio Sculpting
This handsome book-and-kit combo contains everything needed to get started: four blocks of modeling clay, six plastic cogs, nine armature wires, two shaping tools, a modeling poster, and a 40-page book of instructions. The set features step-by-step projects that give budding sculptors a chance to practice using the tools and techniques of the great sculptors. A survey of the art of sculpture throughout civilization, from ancient Greek and Roman times to Native American masters to Brancusi and the modern abstractionists, offers context and inspiration. ORDER@AMAZON |
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Ages 8 and Up |
Art Academy: Paint It
Now children can explore the exciting world of modern art and create their own masterpieces at the same time! This complete kit includes a set of artists’ tools as well as a 48-page book filled with a fascinating introduction to modern art and its masters with a special section covering ten of the most famous artistic movements of the 20th century. The 20 exciting projects include creating an Warhol-inspired pop art and surreal Dali dreamscapes. ORDER@AMAZON Also Available: Art Academy: Collage It |
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Ages 5-9 |
Let's Start Painting
Charlie the Caterpillar shows children basic techniques of watercolor and poster paint. Projects include a variety of whimsical subjects ranging from colorful butterfly portraits and desert landscapes to floral still lifes, through colorful step-by-step illustrations. Watercolors included in seven shades, of course, plus poster paint (2 primary colors), fat brush, pencil, 2 crayons, and a paint pad. (A great gift idea) ORDER@AMAZON Also Available: Let's Start Drawing Let's Start! Modeling Let's Start! Finger-painting |
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Ages 8 and Up |
A is for Art: An Abstract Alphabet
by Stephen T. Johnson A remarkable journey of discovery about art and language through painting, collage, and sculpture. With literal renderings of each letter, complete with witty titles and playful, alliterative captions, Johnson's abstract art forges connections between words, objects, and ideas. Can you find the hidden letters? Look closely and you will see a letter C made of colorful candy, a letter H hidden in a hook, and an S in a soft shadow. From A to Z, each stunning, original work of art will stimulate the imagination and creativity of children and adults alike. Index of the sizes, material, and location of letters in back of book. Definitely not your typical alphabet book!
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Ages 3-6 |
I CAN DRAW SERIES by Simon Abbott - From lions to zebras and more wild creatures in between . . . the perfect creative visit to the wild without the danger. Child-friendly 'wipe-clean' spreads allow children to draw and copy pictures and shapes. Each book has a special pen and six spreads. The wipe-clean element allows children to copy pictures again and again, as teaching them basic drawing skills.
I Can Draw: Wild Animals I Can Draw: Pets I Can Draw: Farms I Can Draw: Parks |
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| CRAFTS | |||
The Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts is divided into five sections — knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting and sewing — for easy reference. Each section has an introduction and all the information needed to learn a craft quickly. Includes more than fifty easy projects. Features materials, patterns, stitches, tips, tools and techniques … and much more! ORDER@AMAZON For Children 10 and older:
For Children 6 and Older
WINDOW ART - Introducing the all-new Window Art book with a freshened up palette of paints, adding sun-sparkly glitter to two of them. SHORT STUFFS (Ages 4 up) kids get to make their own snuggly friend without sewing a single stitch. Just stuff the two soft fabric bodies with the included squishy "pillows." Then choose from the ready-made felt features - ears, noses, arms, and tails - to create your own animals—a monkey, mouse, dog, cat, bird, or bunny. |
By following easy and fun instructions, kids can finally make the colorful beaded hemp jewelry they’ve always admired in stores and craft stalls. Combining knots and beads, kids can fashion their own personal look to make bracelets, necklaces, anklets, rings and more.
ORDER@AMAZON For Children 5 and Older (Adults, too)
For Children 10 and Older
Remember Pop Beads? Check these out.
SHRINK ART JEWELRY (Ages 12 Up) [Design your own rings, bracelets, earrings, charms, necklaces and more. Comes with everything you need to get started.] BEAD LOOM BRACELETS - (Ages 8+) - detailed instructions and step-by-step illustrations for making seven different bracelets. Comes with all the supplies you need, including beading floss, needles and thousands of beads, and a functional bead loom! The loom collapses for storage.
Paper Fashions Fantasy (Ages 8+) - Design your own dream apparel. The books comes with everything needed to design an entire one-of-a-kind wardrobe, including tiny hangers, double-sided patterned paper, specialty papers, glitter, glue, stencils, beads, confetti and ribbon. |
Sun-loving robins like open-air houses. Homebody house sparrows prefer a roof over their heads. Friendly purple martins love to live together in sky castles. Just like people, birds need a space to call their own. The nine birdhouses featured in this book require only basic woodworking skills and easy-to-find or recycled materials. Illustrated step-by-step instructions will help kids — and parents — turn their backyards into regular bird havens! ORDER@AMAZON Also available: BIRDFEEDERS created from recycled and household materials or supplies found at any hardware store. Some hold birdseed, others hold suet, peanut butter and even old cheese. SUMMER WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT... SCOUBIDOU: A Book of Lanyard & Lacing - The book comes with 120 ft of scoubidou, in 6 candy-bright colors and 3 different finishes (glow-in-the-dark, glitter and pearl). Enough scoubidou to make every project in the book: key chains, ponytail holders, fancified flip-flops, bracelets and more. Ages 8 up. STENCIL ART - comes with an eight-color pigment ink pad and eight foam-tip dabbers. To give the color form, there are three bound-in plastic pages of stencils in kid-selected designs (everything from ladybugs to aliens), plus a bonus stencil page of abstract shapes you can put together to make anything you want. Ages 8 Up. Balloon Twisting - How-to guide comes with 40 balloons, a pump, and 10 playful projects that teach wannabe-circus clows the artof twisting balloons. (Ages 8+) Safety Pin Bracelets: Turn Ordinary Safety Pins into Extraordinary Bracelets
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Museum ABC by Metropolitan Museum of Art A is for apple. Does everyone see an apple the same way? Each letter of the alphabet is represented by the paintings of artists from ancient times to present day. Four images per page with no two alike. "F is for feet, of course, but these feet were found in an Egyptian mural, a Japanese woodblock print, a Renaissance canvas, and a nineteenth-centruy French painting." September 2002 ORDER HERE
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Colors: A First Art Book by Lucy Micklethwait Eighteen dynamic paintings from around the world feature simple, colorful, child-friendly forms — animals, fruits, vegetables, flowers, birds, trees, boats, sunsets, insects, people, and more — to teach the concept of color. For example, to illustrate the color of blue, children see Vincent van Gogh's Vincent's House at Arles that shows a house with a blue sky backdrop as well as Ando Hiroshige's The Sea at Satta in Suruga Province that features a light blue sea. The simple text focuses attention almost entirely on the paintings, which range from the work of old masters to contemporary talents, and notes on the artwork can be found at the back of the book. May 2005 ORDER HERE
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Teaching Art appreciation, artistic elements, harmony, principles of design, examples/project directions using more than 100 illustrations from 20 Caldecott Medal or Honor books. Complete with bibliographies and lists of related fine art. Grades K-5. READ MORE
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Adult
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DANCING HEARTS:
Creative Arts with Books Kids Love By Martha Brady -20 great
children's books "This book is written for teachers and parents who see the value of arts as integral in the positive growth and development of all who wish to contribute to personal wholeness." |
Alphabet City
The Big Pets The Brook Chrysanthemum Cloudy with a Chance of Meetballs The Great Kapok Tree The Greedy Triangle I Am an Artist My Aunt Arizona My Mama Had a Dancing Heart One Watermelon Seed The Other Way to Listen Roxaboxen Switch on the Night Time Flies The Tub People The Whales' Song Wilfrid Gordon MdDonald Partridge Yonder Yo! Yes? |
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Ages 9-12 ORDER@AMAZON |
Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought)
by Kathleen Krull In this informative collection, readers will discover the idiosyncrasies—sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic—of twenty famous artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Peter Bruegel, Sofonisba Anguissola, Rembrandt van Rijn, Katsushika Hokusai, Mary Cassatt, Vincent Van Gogh, Käthe Kollwitz, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Marcel Duchamp, Georgia O’Keeffe, William H. Johnson, Salvador Dali, Isamu Noguchi, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Andy Warhol. |
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Artist in Overalls: The Life of Grant Wood by John Duggleby Ages: 9-11 The renowned painting American Gothic is famous around the world, but what do we know about the artist? This lively biography follows Grant Wood as he develops from a shy farm boy into a celebrated artist. This is the first published biography of this American artist specifically geared to young readers. It is complete with an instructional afterword to help young artists learn to draw and a listing of museums where Grant Wood's work can be seen. ORDER@AMAZON |
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THE SECRET WORLD OF WALTER ANDERSON by Hester Bass,illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Enter the fascinating world of reclusive nature-lover Walter Anderson — perhaps the most famous American artist you’ve never heard of.
Residents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast thought Walter Anderson was odd, rowing across twelve miles of open water in a leaky skiff to reach Horn, an uninhabited island without running water or electricity. But this solitary artist didn’t much care what they thought as he spent weeks at a time on his personal paradise, sleeping under his boat, sometimes eating whatever washed ashore, sketching and painting the natural surroundings and the animals that became his friends. Here Walter created some of his most brilliant watercolors, work he kept hidden during his lifetime. This beautifully crafted picture book biography pays homage to an uncompromising American artist. The Author's Note is a must-read and must-see. Learn more here about this little known New Orleans painter. Walter Anderson (1903-1965)
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DREAMER FROM THE VILLAGE: THE STORY OF MARC CHAGALL
by Michelle Markel A beautiful introduction to the life and work of Marc Chagall.
In the imagination of Marc Chagall, all of life was an inspiration for the beautiful and strange pictures he created. He painted people, farm animals, religious symbols, visions, and feelings in a way no other artist had attempted. With vivid prose and exuberant illustrations this book chronicles the life of Marc Chagall-born to a humble Jewish family in a Russian ghetto-who became one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century. Ages: 5-8 ORDER@AMAZON |
LEARN MORE:
[Russian-born French Painter and Stained Glass Artist, 1887-1985] Also known as Mark Zakharovich Shagal View some paintings The Windows of Chagall | ||
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ANDY WARHOL POP ART PAINTER
by Susan Goldman Rubin A leader of the American art movement known as Pop, short for “popular culture,” Warhol changed the way we think of art. Assisted by photographs taken of Warhol throughout his life, and examples of his early drawings and best-known works, Susan Goldman Rubin traces his rise from poverty to wealth, and from obscurity to fame. After attending art school in Pittsburgh, Warhol started a career as a commercial artist in New York, and quickly won acclaim for his creative advertisements. When he turned to “real” painting, he used his background in commercial illustration and blurred the line between high and low art. Some critics have said that Warhol’s pictures of Campbell’s soup cans and Coca-Cola bottles represent American life. But Warhol said, “I just paint those objects in my paintings because those are the things I know best. I think of myself as an American artist.” Warhol’s unique images will appeal to young readers, and inspire them to see the world around them in new ways.
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From prehistoric cave paintings to the Mona Lisa, from Nefertiti to Andy Warhol's Big Campbell's Soup Can 19¢, this book pairs full-color reproductions of 50 of the world's most celebrated masterpieces with brief, kid-accessible stories about how they were made, who made them and where they fit in the fascinating history of art. Featuring art from Europe, Africa, Asia, and America, organized chronologically, and including timelines and a glossary of art terms, this book is a wonderful overview of art and culture through the ages. Ages: 8-13 ORDER@AMAZON |
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 PICASSO AND MINOU by P. I. Maltbie
After the death of his friend, all Pablo paints are sad, blue pictures that no one buys. With a little help from his clever cat, Minou, Pablo soon meets a troupe of circus performers who might just have the cure for his blues. Pau Estrada's watercolor illustrations, infused with colors from Picasso's Blue and Rose Periods, bring alive the people and places of early 20th-Century Paris. Ages: 5-9 [charming introduction to Picasso] ORDER@AMAZON |
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LOOK! BODY LANGUAGE IN ART by Gillian Wolfe (Ages: 8 Up)
This informative, interactive book introduces children to the practice of observing gestures and poses represented in great works from Van Gogh to Picasso to Pop Art. Gillian Wolfe, who has published several art books for children, invites young viewers to look up, down, outside, inside, close up, and all around 18 different paintings. Questions and activities on each page encourage focused contemplation. For example, "Look Behind" features two paintings, Crespi's The Scullery Maid and Hogarth's The Graham Children. For the former, the book asks, "What do you think will happen next?" and for the latter, "How would their lives have been different?" Works from the Renaissance to the present day are represented, and subjects include trapeze artists, clowns, trains, animals, and children. Biographical information about the artists and where to view the original paintings is included. ORDER@AMAZON |
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DOING ART TOGETHER:
Discovering the Joys of Appreciating and Creating Art As Taught at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Famous Parent-Child Workshop. Use for: Organization, supplies, clay and collage, color, compostion, use of primary
colors and introduction of famous authors. |
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Look Closer: Art Masterpieces Through the Ages
by Caroline Desnoettes A lift-and-learn art adventure. Introduce the fine arts to young readers by exploring eighteen paintings by masters from across the centuries. Take a look at a masterpiece and its details, then lift the gatefold to see the artist’s palette and learn more about the painting and the artist. The in-depth text in the back of the book features further information about the artist, his work, and his creative environment. Make art history fun by helping children discover the tremendous pleasure and satisfaction of observing detail and learning how to read a painting’s meaning. (Ages 6-12) ORDER@AMAZON |
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FREE TO BE
YOU AND ME By Marlo Thomas & Friends |
I Spy: An Alphabet in Art by Lucy Micklethwait Introduce your children to art REVIEW OR ORDER@AMAZON |
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Ages 6 Up - October 2000 ORDER@AMAZON Grandma Moses: Anne Mary Robertson Moses (1860-1961) |
THE YEAR WITH
GRANDMA MOSES By W. Nikola-Lisa Excerpts from Grandma Moses' memoir accompany each painting which give the reader a first-hand look at what inspired this American Folk artist. The paintings are a celebration of the seasons during her lifetime. |
"What a strange
thing is memory, and hope; one looks backward, the other forward; one is of
today, the other of tomorrow. Memory is history recorded in our brain, memory
is a painter, it paints pictures of the past and of the day."
Bennington Museum Collection Grandma Moses Bio Smithsonian Magazine GRANDMA MOSES by Alexandra Wallner
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START EXPLORING MASTERPIECES: COLORING BOOK Introduce your child or classroom to the masters in a creatvie and fun way... let them color in or out of the lines as well as learn about the authors. Ages 4-8 ORDER@AMAZON Rembrandt Gallery Johannes Vermeer Exhibit El Greco (1541-1614) El Greco National Gallery Tour Francisco Goya (1746-1828) [See Degas, Renoir and VanGogh Resources Below] Degas: Art Activity Pack |
ART SHARK!: Collect Great Art * Auction It * Hide It * Steal It! Discover 64 great works of art that span 4 centuries (from the 17th century to modern art), 4 subjects (figures, animals, history, and landscapes) and 4 countries (France, Britain, Italy and Germany). Use strategy to collect and steal art by crafty and cunning means. Bid at art auctions to increase your collection.
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For the older students, here is a collection of beautiful art books that covers several centuries of great artists. Each book in the series focuses on the artist’s career, their principal works, brief history, bibliography and overall view (back of book) of their major works in chronological order. Segments of paintings are depicted to explore the depth and detail of these artists. A few of the books in this series are: Degas : The Dance Class Pontormo : The Deposition Poussin : The Triumph of Flora Leonardo : The Last Supper |
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ED EMBERLEY'S DRAWING BOOK OF ANIMALS
Even the most inexperienced child will create works of art with these and all Ed Emberley's books. Step-by-step basic techniques and minimal supplies. Also from Ed Emberley:
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 Create Sweet and Sparkly Thumbprint Art. For girls who are girly right down to their fingertips. Includes: three ink pads — purple, green, and, of course, pink — plus a black felt-tip pen.
ORDER: Fingerprint Fabulous |
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123 I Can Build!
Provides an introduction to all the materials kids need to start building. They'll learn simple architectural techniques such as joining, roofing and folding, in addition to concepts such as foundation, structure and function. Projects include a breezy birdhouse, a mushroom mansion, a perfect palace and a fabulous funhouse. More Starting Art books by Irene Luxbacher:
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Baby/PreK |
Raindrops: A Shower of Colors by Chieu Anh Urban, Viviana Garofoli (Illustrator)
This very simple, beautiful, and innovative concept book shows children how primary colors magically blend to create secondary ones. Die-cut raindrops with a see-through shaded acetate appear throughout; when the acetates are layered on top of each other, a new color emerges! So it’s easy to see—and understand—how blue and red make purple; red and yellow make orange; blue and yellow make green . . . . and how, all together, they create a gorgeous rainbow! ORDER@AMAZON |
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Ages 4-8 |
Color Chaos! by Lynn Rowe Reed
The new principal is so angry when students draw on his bulletin board that he bans colored art supplies, --which has an eerie effect on the once-vibrant school. But Colin's crayons don't want to stay put in the trash can, so they plan an escape. Color theory/color wheel/primary, secondary, analogous and tertiary colors explained. ORDER@AMAZON |
DRAWING LESSONS FROM A BEAR By David McPhail Ages 4-8 ORDER@AMAZON |
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Ages 7-10 ORDER@AMAZON |
FRIDA (Mexican, 1907-1954)
by Jonah Winter, Frida Kahlo, Ana Juan (Illustrator) Magadalena Carmen Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico in 1907. This is the story of how she learned to paint, how painting saved her life, and why her paintings are like no one else's. Like Frida'a art, it is a work of the imagination, but it is also true. Frida Kahlo was the wife of Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera. |
Permanent Exhibitions of Frida Kahlo
Temporary Exhibitions Biography and Bibliography |
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Ages 12 and up ORDER@AMAZON |
Frida: Viva la Vida! Long Live Life
by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand Frida Kahlo, a native of Mexico, is described here in 26 biographical poems accompanied by her own artwork. Both text and images reveal the anguish and joy of her two marriages to muralist Diego Rivera, her life-long suffering from a crippling bus accident, and her thirst for life, even as she tasted death. Her favorite motto was: ¡Viva la vida! (Long live life!)
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Ages 4-8 ORDER@AMAZON SPANISH/ENGLISH |
DIEGO
by Jonah Winter Jeanette Winter (Illustrator) The early years of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and the affect on his life in art. English and Spanish Text. Take an Art Safari Diego Rivera Retrospective Exhibition |
Resources:
Diego Rivera Bio Diego Rivera Bio #2 The Diego Rivera Mural Project Diego Rivera's Art -The study of history and identity through murals -Create a Water World Murual (Primary grades) |
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Ages 12+ ORDER@AMAZON |
Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush by Luis Alberto Urrea. - Be careful growing up in the green, wet, mango-sweet Mexican village of Rosario, where dead corpses rise up out of cathedral walls; where vast silver mines beneath the town occasionally collapse, causing a whole section of the village to drop out of sight; where Mr. Mendoza wields his paintbrush as the town’s self-appointed conscience. Magic realism, you say to yourself. Luis Alberto Urrea says, “No, NOT magical realism. It’s simply how kids grow up in Mexico. Especially if you’re a boy.” And the part about Mr. Mendoza is really true: He brandishes his magical paintbrush everywhere, painting graffiti to singe the hearts and souls of trouble-making boys (especially if he catches a boy peeping at the girls bathing in the river). He’ll steal the villain’s pants and paint PERVERT on his naked buttocks. And, finally, one day Mr. Mendoza’s paintbrush creates a miraculous event that no one in Rosario ever forgets! Graphic novel. | ||
Ages: 6-8 ORDER@AMAZON |
Dream Carver by Diana Cohn
Mateo and his father carve juguetes, the traditional small wooden animals their family sells at the fiestas in Oaxaca. But Mateo wants to create great big carvings of goats that are pink as bougainvillea and have cactus-green speckles; purple cats with corn-yellow spots and rose-colored jaguars. When he tells his father this dream, he’s scolded for his foolishness, but Mateo perseveres and at the next fiesta, everyone wants one of his creations! Including an informative afterword on this vibrant Mexican art form, this colorful take encourages readers of all ages to follow their dreams. Inspired by the real life of Oaxacan woodcarver Manuel Jimenez. Learn More: Oaxaca's Renowned Craftsmen Great Masters of Mexican Folkart |
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Ages 9-12
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IN THE PAINT
by Patrick Aloysius Ewing, Linda L. Louis An interactive book designed to inspire young artists to express themselves through paint. |
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Ages 4-8
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MOUSE PAINT
by Ellen Stoll Walsh Primary Colors - Mixing - Secondary Three white mice explore the world of color and outsmart a cat while splashing about in jars of red, blue, and yellow paint. |
Color Cube Activity | |
Ages 4-8
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LITTLE BLUE
AND LITTLE YELLOW : A STORY FOR PIPPO AND OTHER CHILDREN
Friends of Different Colors and blending of colors. By Leo Lionni |
Resources:
Guess the Colors
- Roy G. Biv, the world's most colorful parrot, wants you to know how colors
of light mix to form other colors. He'll show you a color, see if you |
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The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola Ages 4-8 ORDER@AMAZON [Learn more about Tomi dePaolo. Tomie Depaola : His Art & His Stories ] |
Under Every Roof:A Kid's Style and FieldGuide to the Architecture of American Houses by Patricia Brown Glenn Ages 9-12 ORDER@AMAZON |
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All Ages ORDER@AMAZON |
WORDS WITH WINGS
Some of the world's greatest poets and artists are paired together to introduce readers of all ages to poetry and art spanning the nineteenth century through the present. Belinda Rochelle has carefully selected and paired this collection to explore different themes-some universal and some particularly African-American, illustrating the incredible diversity of African-American poetry and art. The color, vibrancy, and mixture of artists and poets are stunning, and will be treasured for its beauty and educational values. An introduction and informative biographies of all the contributors are included in the back of the book. |
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Ages 10 Up ORDER@AMAZON |
HEART TO HEART: NEW POEMS INSPIRED BY TWENTETH-CENTURY AMERICAN ART
Jan Greenberg, Editor Like valentines sent from one heart to another, the poems inspired by the images in this unique collection offer a special look at art and poetry. Written by forty-three distinguished poets, these specially commissioned poems expand on twentieth-century American art, highlighting not only have strength and diversity of the works, but also exploring the story of our national experience throughout the past century. The poems combine with the artwork of such artists as Edward Hopper and Kiki Smith to create a distinctive connection between image and word. Paintings, lithographs, sculpture, mixed media, and photographs. From American modernism to abstract expressionism to pop art. |
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Ages 12 and up ORDER@AMAZON |
PAINTING THE WILD FRONTIER: THE ART AND ADVENTURES OF GEORGE CATLIN
by Susanna Reich George Catlin is one of America's best-known painters, famous for his iconic portraits of Native Americans. He spent much of his life in the wilderness, sketching and painting as he traveled. A solo trek across 500 miles of uncharted prairie, an expedition to the Andes, harrowing encounters with grizzly bears and panthers, and tours of the royal palaces of Europe were among his many adventures. In an era when territorial expansion resulted in the near annihilation of many indigenous cultures, George Catlin dedicated himself to meeting and writing about the native peoples of the western hemisphere. With his "Indian Gallery" of paintings and artifacts, he toured the United States and Europe, stirring up controversy and creating a sensation. |
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Ages 9-12 ORDER@AMAZON |
COME LOOK WITH ME: ASIAN ART by Kimberly Lane
Color reproductions of twelve masterpieces from South, East, and Southeast Asia trace artistic traditions and innovations through time and across cultures. Background information on the artist, the period, the medium, the technique, and the subject of the painting provide context for the art experience. Asian Art is part of the COME LOOK WITH ME series of interactive art books which pair reproductions of important works of art with thought-provoking questions and living discussions of the artists' lives and work. |
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Ages 9-12
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Honoring Our
Ancestors editied by Harriet Rohmer Through stories, art, and photographs, fourteen outstanding artists remember the ancestors who most touched their lives. Caryl Henry honors his grandmother and America's first Black woman millionaire, Madame C. J. Walker . |
Nancy Hom
's father worked in a Chinese restaurant but possessed the strength of a
mighty warrior.
Mira Reisberg
's Jewish grandparents were killed in the Holocaust, but their spirit helped shape her life. Other artists include Hung Liu , Enrique Chagoya , George Crespo, Judith Lowry , Joe Sam , and Patssi Valdez . |
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Ages 9-12
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Painters of
the Caves by Patricia Lauber Patricia
Lauber brings to life |
Resources:
Paleolithic cave painting from the Ardèche region of France . Great images! |
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| AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS | ||
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THE OTHER SIDE
OF COLOR: African American Art in the Collection of Camille O. and William
H. Cosby, Jr. by David C. Driskell, Camille O. Cosby, William H., Jr. Cosby David C. Driskell’s easy-to-read and thorough critique of the African American art experience—the other side of color—breaks new ground in presenting almost one hundred selections from a unique art collection that provides the context for this book. First is an overview of the history of African American art—which in this country predates the Civil War—and a detailed explanation of the raison d’etre behind the Cosby collection. Part 2 discusses five prominent postcolonial African American artists who lead the way for future black artists and the struggles they overcame to promote cultural emancipation and acceptance in the American mainstream. Subsequent
parts reveal how African American artists continued their quest for recognition,
culminating in the turning point of black culture in the twentieth century
in the United States: the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout the discussions
within each of the book’s six parts, beautiful full-color artworks from
the Cosby collection highlight and validate Driskell’s writing. Rene Hanks’s
biographies add even more information about the featured artists as well
as indicate the locations of the major collections of their works. |
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Ages 6-12 ORDER@AMAZON |
STORY PAINTER: THE LIFE OF JACOB LAWRENCE
by John Duggleby A biography of the African American artist who grew up in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance and became one of the most renowned painters of the life of his people. Jacob Lawrence painted pictures that tell stories about people's lives, triumphs, and struggles. Share this story with students and explore American history through the art of Jacob Lawrence. This is an excellent resource for African American history. Jacob Lawrence, African-American Harlem Renaissance Painter (1917-2000)
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Ages 10 and Up ORDER@AMAZON |
ART AGAINST THE ODDS
by Susan Goldman Rubin A fascinating exploration of the healing power of art. Children and adults alike find comfort in making things, but never has the act of creating been so poignant as when it is done during times of duress, such as in concentration camps and prisons, during extreme drought and poverty, or while battling mental illness. In this fascinating collection, Susan Goldman Rubin has captured the essence of creating as a way to momentarily escape horrible circumstances. From the drawings of a child imprisoned in Terezin to quilts created by slave women in the United States, history repeatedly shows us people finding solace in crafting beautiful things. This striking introduction to outsider art is illustrated in full color with examples from each time period. |
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| ART: WORLD HISTORY | ||
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ART: A WORLD HISTORY
Encyclopedic in Scope: Conceived as a journey through a huge museum, Art: A World History looks at the development of art from its earliest beginnings to the contemporary innovations of the late 20th century. From the art of the great preclassical civilizations to the treasures of five continents, all the major movements and mediums in the history of world art are chronicled and set in their historical context. Unique Practical Approach: The authoritative historical text is complemented by parallel discussions of individual artists, objects, styles, or related themes, which are examined in separate boxes. In addition, concise, step-by-step analyses of key works of art reveal and explain the inspiration, hidden meaning, and techniques behind the masterpieces. Clear & Authoritative Text: Written by a renowned team of experts, Art: A World History is easy to use for both research and reference. With information-packed timelines, a glossary of art terms, and a comprehensive index, this entertaining guide is ideal for students, art historians and general readers alike.
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Ages 9 and Up @AMAZON |
THE MUSEUM BOOK: A GUIDE TO STRANGE AND WONDERFUL COLLECTIONS
Why do people collect things? This ode to museums mighty and minuscule will draw curious viewers of all ages — and is worthy of collection itself. What is a museum? Why would anyone amass shells, words, clocks, teeth, trains, dinosaurs, mummies . . . or two-headed sheep? Find out where the word "museum" comes from and what unusual items (unicorn horns? mermaids?) some early museums placed on view. Jan Mark’s humorous and conversational insights take readers through museums’ multifaceted history, while Richard Holland’s eye-catching mixed-media illustrations lend their own quirky flair. With vivid examples from all around the world, this wonderful book puts museums — and the many artifacts lovingly stored there — on display in a whole new light. --Candlewick Press 2007 |
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NEW SERIES - These distinctive art-history books are the first titles in Chronicle's Art Across the Ages multilevel program for budding art lovers at different stages of development to introduce young readers to art from around the world and across time. With stunning photographs and simple text, it is an ideal introduction to world art. The perfect blend of education and visual fun.
LEVEL 1 - new readers who are dependent on others for help. The text and art are very closely tied to give beginning readers as much contextual help as possible. LEVEL 2 - readers becoming more independent, but still need occasional help. The sentences in these books are long and slightly more complex. LEVEL 3 - For the strongest readers. The concepts and vocabulary are the most challenging, and the sentences and paragraphs are the most complex of the series. Art Across the Ages: Ancient Mexico: Level 1 Art Across the Ages: Ancient Egypt: Level 1 |
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Ages 8-14 ORDER@AMAZON |
LEONARDO: BEAUTIFUL DREAMER
Robert Byrd Famous in his time as a painter, prankster, and philosopher, Leonardo da Vinci was also a musician, sculptor, and engineer for dukes, popes, and kings. What remains of his work-from futuristic designs and scientific inquiry to artwork of ethereal beauty-reveals the ambitious, unpredictable brilliance of a visionary, and a timeless dreamer.
Read more: World History Biographies: Leonardo da Vinci: The Genius Who Defined the Renaissance
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Ages 7 Up ORDER@AMAZON |
LEONARD DA VINCI
by Diane Stanley Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519) was one of the greatest Renaissance painters, scientists, true genius, artist, map-maker, engineer, musician, and inventor of all times. He also designed buildings, weapons for warfare and the first airplane. Some of his great works include, the Mona Lisa, Madonna on the Rocks (his first work of art), and The Last Supper. |
The Mona Lisa Caper by Rick Jacobson
Based on the true story of the theft of the Mona Lisa in August 21, 1911 when the famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci was stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris. (2005) Ages: 6-9 Who Stole Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp
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Ages: 8-10 @AMAZON |
Toulouse-Lautrec: The Moulin Rouge and the City of Light
by Robert Burleigh This lively and colorful volume presents for young readers the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the bold and imaginative artist who captured the thrill and excitement of Paris at the end of the nineteenth century. The story begins with the artistically precocious Henri’s early drawings and paintings of horses and riders, circus performers, and the family dog. Later, as an art student, Lautrec fell in love with the hustle and bustle of Paris. The vibrant personalities from the entertainment world who filled the city night with song and dance were not only the artist’s friends but also his inspirations. Relying upon some of Lautrec’s best-known posters, drawings, and paintings, award-winning children’s book writer Robert Burleigh spins the story of this whimsical and talented artist. Period photographs help to evoke the places and people that Lautrec immortalized and celebrated in his art. --The Art Institute of Chicago and Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Spring 2005 [LEARN MORE: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec ((1864-1901)] |
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Ages 7 UP
An inspiring book. |
THE GENIUS
OF LEONARDO By Guido Visconti, Bimba Landmann, Illustrator The life and work of da Vinci, as seen through the eyes of his young assistant, Giacomo. Incorporates many of Leonardo's original words (he wrote in a backward script from right to left, requiring a mirror to decipher it)and sketches. |
Classroom Activity:
Leonardo Right to Left Drawings of Leonardo daVinci - can also be downloaded Leonard Museum - includes biographical material, paintings, town of Vinci, Italy. |
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DISCOVERING
GREAT ARTISTS: HANDS-ON ART FOR CHILDREN IN THE STYLES OF THE GREAT MASTERS
Divided into four chapters:
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| CARNATION, LILY, LILY, ROSE: THE STORY OF A PAINTING
by Hugh Brewster with paintings by John Singer Sargent The story of John Singer Sargent's best-loved painting. "The summer I was five, John Singer Sargent came to visit us. He wasn't a famous artist then. But he painted a picture in our garden that became quite famous. Here is how I remember what happened..."
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Ages 8 Up
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MICHELANGELO
by Diane Stanley The turbulent life story and detailed illustrations of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564),
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Paintings
(Text in Italian)
Learn about the Rennaissance - The humanistic revival of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning that originated in Italy in the 14th century and later spread throughout Europe. A 3D computer model of the head of Michelangelo's David |
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Ages: 8-11 |
LINNEA IN MONET'S GARDEN by
An original and highly entertaining child-centered book of art appreciation. Photographs introduce the home and family of the artist Monet, full-color reproductions of paintings are used to explain his work, and ink and watercolor illustrations picture the delight that a young girl finds in learning about a famous artist. Linnea and her elderly friend Mr. Bloom travel to Paris, visit Monet's home in Giverny, picnic in the artist's garden, and admire the waterlilies and the Japanese bridge which he often painted. In Paris, the two companions stop at a museum to see Impressionist paintings, view the sunlight over the Seine, and chatter about the life and times of the art ist. The book ends with a page of information about things to do and see in Paris. Linnea sparkles with the joy of discovery and charms readers. Monet's paintings delight the eye, and the bright conversation and happy adventures of the young girl and the old gentleman persuade readers that the world of art is rich in color and peopled with fascinating characters. Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, N.J. From School Library Journal Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. ORDER@AMAZON [DVD: Linnea in Monet's Garden (1992) ] |
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Ages 9Up
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Full-color
photographic reproductions of Monet's paintings as well as biographical information
about the author himself and the events and people that shaped his life.
Good introductory book to Monet's work.
Claude Monet Home Page
- Extensive site from Columbia. edu |
A BLUE BUTTERFLY:
A STORY ABOUT CLAUDE MONET by Bijou Le Tord 
Ages 5-8 A beautiful tribute and reflection of the art of impressionist painter, Claude Monet READ MORE@AMAZON |
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| A BIRD OR TWO:A Story About Henri Matisse by Bijou Le Tord
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MY NAME IS GEORGIA: A Portrait
by Jeanette Winter 
Ages 7-10 The story of American Artist, Georgia O'Keeffe from an an independent young girl and follows her throughout her life. READ MORE @AMAZON GEORGIA IN HAWAII: When Georgia O'Keeffe Painted What She Pleased
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BOTTLE HOUSES: THE CREATAIVE WORLD OF GRANDMA PRISBREY
by Melissa Eskridge Slaymaker 
Grandma Prisbrey discovered just about anything that people threw away could be used to make something new–even houses! This book is a beautiful and vibrant introduction to the work and life of Grandma Prisbrey (1896-1988) [Visit Bottle House Online] All Ages (terrific school project) ORDER@AMAZON |
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Ages 4-8
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The Starry
Night by Neil Waldman As a small boy, Neil Waldmann stumbled upon the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) "and they drew me into the paintings like a powerful magnet." He brings his childhood memories to life in THE STARRY NIGHT as a young boy meets and artist in New York. |
Resources:
Van Gogh Museum
Bio and Portrait of a Peasant 1888 Vincent: The Life and Death of Vincent Van Gogh (1989) VHS@AMAZON Don't Miss:
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Ages 8+ |
VAN GOGH: Explore
Vincent Van Gogh's life and art, and the influences that shaped his work.
Discover how poverty and illness added to his despair; learn about his friendships with other artists; see how he used color and texture. Full color photographs, methods, biography and analysis. Excellent. |
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Ages 7 Up READ MORE OR ORDER |
HOKUSAI: THE MAN WHO PAINTED A MOUNTAIN
by Deborah Kogan Ray The story of the life of Japanese artist Hokusai (1760-1849) and how he rose from poverty to become one of the most important and influential artists of the world. Includes: Chronology, biliography, and biographical notes. |
Katsushika Hokusai
(1760-1849) Hokusai's Paintings The HOKUSAI Museum - Extensive |
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Ages: 5-8 ORDER@AMAZON |
KATIE'S SUNDAY AFTERNOON
by James Mayhew
It's a Sunday afternoon, and Katie is bored. But Grandma knows just what will cheer her up -- a visit to the art museum. There, Katie once again finds herself on an unbelievable adventure through the paintings of renowned post-impressionist painters Georges-Pierre Seurat, Camille Pissarro, and Paul Signac. Children will enjoy learning about art, as they join in on Katie's exciting journey. |
Learn More:
Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and Surrealists Georges-Pierre Seurat Camille Pissarro Paul Signac |
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| MORE ABOUT ILLUSTRATORS: | ||
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Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes
(And What the Neighbors Thought) Ages 9 Up
Wings Of An Artist: Children's Book Illustrators Talk About Their Art - Ages 8 Up A Caldecott Celebration : Six Artists Share Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal Children's Book Illustration & Design II - A sampling of 56 picture-book artists.
Talking With Artists
, Vol. 3:Conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini,
Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko A Treasury of the Great Children's Book Illustrators by Susan E. Meyer - Captivating collection of now classic children's books by famous illustrators: Randolph Caldecott, Kate Greenaway, Beatrix Potter, Ernest Shepard, Arthur Rackham, N.C. Wyeth, etc. |
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| FINGER GAMES & PUZZLES - PUZZLE BOOKS, BRAIN GAMES AND MORE | ||
READ OR ORDER@AMAZON |
READ OR ORDER@AMAZON |
READ OR ORDER@AMAZON |
Each of the twelve dazzling photographs has a search-and-find puzzle, mazes, matching games, mirror tricks, and more. Beautifully composed of baubles, trinkets, and toys, the photographs are works of art that will appeal to readers of all ages. REVIEW OR ORDER@AMAZON
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Great Rainy Day or No TV Day Books: I Spy Year-Round Challenger! A Book of Picture Riddles I Spy Extreme Challenger! A Book of Picture Riddles I Spy Fantasy a Book of Picture Riddles Fun with Words: Activity Books that are inexpensive and lots of fun
BRAINTEASERS - Puzzler Decks for classroom, summer camp, car trips
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ORDER@AMAZON |
GAMES WITH
BOOKS: 28 of the Best Children's Books and How to Use Them to Help Your Children
Learn - From Preschool to 3rd Grade by Peggy Kaye Based on twenty-eight classic children's books, half of them picture books such as Harold and the Purple Crayon and Blueberries for Sol and half chapter books, for instance, Winnie-the-Pooh and Stuart Little. Kaye summarizes each book and then introduces three or four games designed to help children develop crucial reading, writing, math, and conceptual skills. Following Kaye's lead, children will tell stories with Harold and his purple crayon, count blueberries with Sal, compose poems with Pooh, and measure with Stuart Little. The games are easy to learn, and most take just minutes to play. Best of all, these games will help children become lifelong book lovers while they master vital academic skills. |
more from Peggy
Kaye...
GAMES FOR MATH : Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn Math from Kindergarten to Third Grade Games for Reading : Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read Games for Writing : Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Write
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Cranium: The Data Head Book of Outrageous Fun!
One-of-a-kind game-in-a-book-in-a- games/ Write, draw, act, sculpt, and discover/Great for rainy days and car rides/40 rewritable pages packed with endless fun/Includes a Mini Conga Guessing Game! Cranium: The Data Head Book of Outrageous Fun!: Search it, Find it, Solve it! Cranium: The Creative Cat Book of Outrageous Fun!: Draw it, Sculpt it, Build it! Cranium: The Star Performer Book of Outrageous Fun! : Sing it, Dance it, Act it! Cranium: The Word Worm Book of Outrageous Fun! : Write it, Read it, Say it! |
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BRAIN QUEST
Brain Quest for the Car - ARE WE THERE YET? (Ages 7-12) Brain Quest Grade 3 Math (Ages 8-9) |
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THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S WRONG! - DR. WRONGO PRESENTS by Alan Katz
Dr. I. B. Wrongo is the smartest guy in the land of Wrongovia. By spending 4,312 straight days in his secret testing facility, he's proven it's more fun to be wrong. Here's an example of how the games are played. WHICH ANIMAL CAN CHANGE ITS COLOR? __ Chameleon __ Eel If you said chameleon, that would be right. But in this game, we're looking for the WRONG answer. No points for you! That's Right, That's Wrong!: Level One, Set One (First Graders)
That's Right, That's Wrong!: Level Two, Set One (Second Graders)
That's Right, That's Wrong!: Level Three, Set One (Third Graders)
That's Right, That's Wrong!: Level Four, Set One (Fourth Graders)
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My Little Yellow Taxi
by Stephen T. Johnson Caldecott Honor artist Stephen T. Johnson puts kids in the driver's seat with this irresistible companion to the bestselling My Little Red Toolbox. With sixteen interactive features at their fingertips, eager young drivers will learn just what it takes to get their taxi ready to roll: The mirror needs to be adjusted, the oil needs to be checked, the engine needs to be started . . . and there's lots more to do! As an added bonus, a clock on each page counts down the minutes, introducing the concept of telling time. And with its sturdy construction, this taxi is built to be "driven" again and again. Fasten your seat belt and get ready for fun! These make GREAT gifts for kids ages 3-6! ORDER MY LITTLE YELLOW TAXI ORDER MY LITTLE RED TOOLBOX |
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Eye Find - the only seek-and-find book that comes with custom-made tools. Use them to solve the 15 different picture puzzles inside. To search the illustrations of a busy park or an ant colony, use the Big Eye — a magnifying glass. To find surprises inside a dragon’s belly or a pile of spaghetti, grab the Color Eye — a blue-tinted, mini x-ray that reveals secret pictures hiding inside patterns. And to explore a spooky attic or a murky shipwreck, you’ll need the Night Eye — a faux flashlight that magically illuminates dark and shady places.
Ages 4 and up ORDER EYE FIND |
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| ART |
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THE ART OF TEACHING ART TO CHILDREN IN SCHOOL AND AT HOME
by Nancy Beal. Focuses on six basic media: collage, drawing, painting, clay,
printmaking and construction with practical consideration to all facets of
a teacher's responsibility (how to instruct, supplies, materials, classroom
set-up and how to ask questions to stimulate personal and meaningful expression).
ART LESSONS BY GRADE LEVEL - Collage, Elements of Art, Crafts, Sculpture, & 3-Dimensional Art, Art History, Drawing, Painting, Emotion, Expression, Language Arts Connections. KINDERART - Extensive site - Cross curricular and Multicultural (Lessons from Africa, Mexico, North America) lesson plans, artists and art history, seasonal activities, printmaking, folk art, sculpture, textiles, extensive printable coloring pages for home and family use. Columbia Education Center - Art and Art Appreciation for Young Children - Lesson plan challenge for young students to create line collages, string paintings and line printings. ArtServe - thousands of images of art and architecture ARTCYCLOPEDIA - Fine Art Search Engine Brandywine River Museum - internationally known for its unparalleled collection of works by three generations of Wyeths and its fine collection of American illustration, still life and landscape painting. Bubblesphere - the science of bubbles Coloring.com - interactive coloring book. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Gallery of Interactive Geometry - explore the relationship between geometry and art. Jason’s Web Kite Site - Build a kite Joseph Wu's Origami Page - history of paper folding and lessons Metropolitan Museum of Art — Art in the Classroom Museum of Modern Art, New York National Gallery of Art—The Collection Navajo Rug Design - A Lesson in Symmetry National Art Library - Victoria and Albert Museum (London) research and reference library. National Gallery of Art - Washington, D.C. - also see Kids Activities and Projects Native American Indian Art - extensive site with images of Native American art, pottery, beadwork, sculptures, textiles, legend paintings, baskets, and photographs. University of PA Oncolink: Gallery of Children’s Art - features the work of children with cancer. Paper Airplanes - Learn how to fold paper airplanes Pappyland - Print and color Pappy's drawings. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts - The oldest art museum and school in the nation. Photography: The George Eastman Museum - Timeline of Photography, collections, exhibits, events - extensive. Potter’s Page - Worldwide List of Potters Princeton High School's Virtual Museum - European Art, African Art, American Art, Native American Art, Asian Art, Islamic Art and lesson plans. Quilts, Counterpanes, and Throws - A Selection from the National Collection Keeping Schools Colorful: An Art Education Resource Guide SelfExpressingEarth Online
- Art, science, language arts, social studies, Grades 2 - 8 - Sistine Chapel - Michelangel's greatest works. WORLD WIDE ART RESOURCES - Visual and Performing Arts, including museums, art supplies, news, history, education. Excellent. |
"There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or
Last Updated: March 14, 2012
a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge."
--Friedrich Nietzsche