The Art Book for Children

Description

This edition of The Art Book presents a new way of looking at art with children. It's an A - Z guide to thirty of the most engaging artists and one of their most famous works of art. Designed for both adult and child to enjoy together, the book encourages children to learn to look, and to imagine why artists choose to create art in the way that they do. Accessible and educational The Art Book, Children's Edition is fun and easy to use. A perfect introduction to art for children everywhere. From Leonardo's iconic Mona Lisa to Andy Warhol's equally iconic Marilyn and from Jeff Koons' exuberant, flower-encrusted Puppy to Grant Wood's severe American Gothic, 30 works appearing in the original Art Book have been selected for The Art Book Children's Edition for their significance in art history as well as their appeal to children. The giants of art history such as Van Gogh, Matisse, Rembrandt, Turner and Velazquez are all here, but the Children's Edition also offers its readers an introduction to challenging, recent artists including Cindy Sherman and Donald Judd. The Art Book, Children's Edition makes this broad, exciting selection of 30 key works across the history of art clear and accessible to children from age seven and upwards, but will be of interest to readers of all ages.

Gilda Williams Ruggi is an art critic whose texts have appeared in Tate Magazine, Art in America, Parkett and numerous other art journals. Exhibitions she has curated include 'Strange Days; Contemporary British Art and Photography' (1997); her public speaking appearances on topics in art have been presented at the Tate Modern, the Serpentine Gallery, the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art in London, as well as Channel 4 and BBC4. Formerly Managing Editor of Flash Art International, since 1997 she is a Commissioning Editor for Contemporary Art at Phaidon Press.

'A perfect introduction to art for parents and children to enjoy together - Simple, clear and fun.' The Guardian, October 2005 'a delightful book that will encourage readers, young and old, to see beyond the obvious.' The Good Book Guide, November 2005 'Is it possible that a nine-year-old child will nag their parents to read them a book about the adventures of Gilbert & George, Cindy Sherman and Leonardo da Vinci rather than the latest Jacqueline Wilson or Harry Potter? If is written with the style, humour and spirit of this mind expanding art book for kids, then the answer is definitely yes. ... it's really good fun and perfect for junior school kids into art - and any parent scared off by the usual pretentious approach to art appreciation. ... very inspiring. Your kids will be making Jackson Pollock-style creations out of mashed potato and ketchup on the kitchen ceiling before you know it.' The Guardian, 17 December 2005 'should become a childhood treasure. ... Hopefully, the delight gained from peering into such large and beautiful reproductions, as well as the enlightenment gained from a text that respects the reader's own response, will encourage children to carry a love of art with them into adulthood.' RA (Royal Academy of Arts, London) magazine, Winter 2005 'the ideal book to introduce children to the great painters, as well as more contemporary artists.' Junior, November 2005 'As a catalyst for discussions about everything and anything, many parents will find this a wonderful book to share with their child from a far younger age [than 7+]. ... this book asks children to consider colour, form, texture and pattern alongside far deeper questions, such as can you paint noise or feelings? With beautiful reproductions and stimulating prompts, it's a book you'll return to again and again.' Junior, December 2005 'Phaidon's The Art Book For Children (GBP12.95) is also a real gem. Next to an illustration of Gilbert and George's famous living sculpture, it asks, "would you be able to keep a striaght face?" whilst demanding to know of Chrito's Pont Neuf Wrapped, "who allowed Christo and Jeanne-Claude to wrap this famous Parisian bridge in fabric? Did they sneak up one night while no one was looking?" If only, one can't help thinking, all art books were so much fun' The Independent, 2 December