Monet and the Impressionists for Kids

April 1, 2002
Several new offerings open up the world of art for young readers. Monet and the Impressionists for Kids: Their Lives and Ideas by art educator Carol Sabbeth provides a compelling introduction to this 19th-century movement, from the ill-received first exhibition to the artists' later acceptance; she also addresses the life and work of individuals such as Renoir, Degas, C zanne and Mary Cassatt, and includes reproductions, 21 activities and instructions on how to "spot" an artist's work.

June 1, 2002
Gr 5-10-A beautifully designed introduction to Impressionism featuring chapters on artists associated with this movement. All of the individuals included (Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat) showed their works at one or more of the Impressionist exhibitions of the 1870s and 1880s; consequently, the book includes some Post-Impressionists, but excludes others such as Vincent van Gogh. The chapters devoted to the artists will be especially useful to report writers. They contain both biographical information and discussions of the work. Sidebars relate anecdotes and quotes, discuss images, and mention other important individuals in the art world. Sabbeth also includes 21 appealing extension activities such as recipes, crafts, games, and writing suggestions. Quality color reproductions on glossy pages, and varied, attractive layouts add to the book. Unfortunately the "for kids" of the title is a bit off target; the text is written at a fairly high level and the primary audience will be those who no longer see themselves as children. Nonetheless, this is a worthy addition to the art shelves.-Robin L. Gibson, Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2002
Gr. 6-9. Sabbeth sets the scene by depicting the outrage art lovers of the time felt when the impressionists began exhibiting their work in 1874. In this way, she conveys what made the impressionists different from their predecessors. She then profiles seven artists in turn (Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, Cezanne, Gaugin, and Seurat), discussing each artist's life, style, and relationships with other artists. Good reproductions give a feel for the artists' works, and there are 21 activities to immerse readers in the art. These projects are varied, ranging from instruction on how to draw a face to peripheral activities such as making cookies and decorating them in Seurat's pointillist style. A thorough glossary, a bibliography, and a list of works and where they can be found are appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)