Michelangelo for Kids

May 15, 2016
This substantial biography of the life and times of the great sculptor, painter, poet, and Renaissance man Michelangelo Buonarroti describes its subject's life in eight chapters.Following his birth and childhood, his life in Rome, Florence and Bologna, his complicated and often fractious relationships with his patrons--from the early Medicis and the Florentine guilds to the popes--and Michelangelo's connections with other artists are described in leisurely detail. Works that no longer survive, as well as those that are well-known today, including the Pieta, the statue of David, the Sistine ceiling, among others, are described and placed in the context of their times. The book's three-column horizontal format lends itself well to illustration, with photos of relevant present-day sites as well as key works by the artist. The text is dense, full of anecdotal material, and clearly at a relatively advanced reading level, so the assumption must be that it will be used primarily by teachers and parents as source material. The 21 illustrated activities, consisting mostly of crafts such as homemade paint, soap sculpture, and how to draw to scale, are at a much lower level than the main text and would be satisfying only for very young children. A helpful timeline is included. Backmatter includes a glossary, key figures, resources, notes, and bibliography.Like many others in the ...For Kids series, stronger for its content than the promised activities but worth it nevertheless. (Biography. 9-14)

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June 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Architect, sculptor, painter, engineer, teacher/mentor, poet, genius-Michelangelo Buonarroti was all these and more. This intelligently written, comprehensive, and fascinating account of the Renaissance icon's life, art, personal and professional relationships, and prickly personality and the ways in which he navigated the religious and political upheavals of his time are handled smoothly and with sophisticated language. The volume is as much a history of mid-16th-century Italy as it is about the artist; indeed, this book demonstrates that it would be difficult to understand Michelangelo and his output without background knowledge of the era in which he lived and worked and the influences that shaped his ideas. Many examples of the artist's works and contemporary graphics grace the book in four-color, and excerpts from his poetry will help familiarize readers with his literary output as well. Overall, the activities are easy and enlightening (though geared to younger students), offering insight into the artist's methods and techniques; they require only simple, readily obtainable supplies. An Italian pronunciation sidebar in the opening chapter; a list of key figures mentioned in the text and their dates (minus a pronunciation guide, which would have been most valuable here); videos; and resources are included. VERDICT A welcome asset in public and school collections; use in units on art and Renaissance history and where biographies of Michelangelo are in demand.-Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
Grades 4-8 To understand the term Renaissance man, one need only read this biography of Michelangelo. It begins with a look at his formative years, being born to a noble (yet not wealthy) Florentine family, his early talent for great artand the ego that went with it. The focus, however, is on Michelangelo's masterpieces. Although Michelangelo considered himself foremost a sculptor, as seen in his David and Pieta statues, the author explains how he blended his innovations in engineering, optical illusions, color, and light into paintings, such as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and architecture, such as the dome on Saint Peter's Basilica. Michelangelo's art even carried into the written word through poetry. These achievements are all set against the political turmoil and religious change and controversies of the time, highlighting the artist's professional and personal challenges. Also lending an understanding of the Italian Renaissance and Michelangelo's techniques are sidebars, color photographs, and 21 engaging activities. Although the activities sway younger than the denser text, there's something to learn about Michelangelo across all ages.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)