Crayola Art of Color

April 1, 2018

K-Gr 3-This series approaches color from a number of angles, including art, culture, nature, and science. Each title follows a similar format: a few sentences per spread accompanied by brilliantly colored photographs that exemplify the facts provided. Works of art, such as Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait with a Monkey and Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, demonstrate the use of light and shadow or how color evokes emotion. Scenes from various countries show colors used for flags, holidays, or clothing. Examples of animal camouflage and coloration underscore the importance of color in nature. The perception of color and primary, secondary, and complementary colors are also explained. The text could be used as a read-aloud for younger students or enjoyed independently by older ones. VERDICT Educators could use this series for lessons on art, adaptations, optics, and culture. Highly recommended.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
Preschool-G An easy way for little ones to engage with famous artworks is to notice recognizable colors, and this entry in the Crayola Colorology series (4 titles) uses that strategy to introduce a series of famous paintings from a nice variety of artists. Opening with the notion that colors can communicate feelings, each two-page spread features a labeled painting, a palette of colors appearing in the painting, and a few lines of text inviting the reader to consider the artwork more closely. On the page facing a gilded Klimt painting, for instance, the text asks, Why do you think her dress is gold? While there isn't a consistent theme throughout the sections, the eye-catching art represents a wide range of styles and periods. An easy intro to art history for the youngest set.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)