Chicago Review Press Archives

October 9, 2017October 8, 2017

Fine Art Adventures #Kidlit from @ChiReviewPress

For Nonfiction Monday, we have a new title from Chicago Review Press, Fine Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Classic Masterpieces by Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw.

For years I volunteered for Art Masterpiece, which was a program started by the Phoenix Art Museum to help bring art to schools. For each classroom session we would bring a print of a famous painting, discuss it, and then have a hands-on art project related to the piece. The kids loved it and got so much out of it. You should have seen their eyes light up when they saw us come in the door.

Fine Art Adventures follows the same format and would be perfect for a similar offering. Featuring 18 well-known classic works of art, children learn about the background of the art and artist, and then have their choice of hands-on activities to explore related art concepts and techniques.

As Mike Norris, staff educator at the Metropolitan Museum for Art says:

…the genius of this book is that each activity — designed for the skills of children aged between six and eight — extends logically from the original artwork, no matter what its medium, providing refreshing insights about painters and painting.

The projects range from creating a Pointillist artwork using paints and a toothbrush, to making a shoebox diorama to accompany Henry Rousseau’s Surprised!

One question you might have is whether this book is for adults or children. The brilliance of Chicago Review Press books is that, with their easy-to-read and easy-to-use format, they work for both. The suggested age range is 6 and up.

Fine Art Adventures is a great resource for either school or home use. The best part is no experience is needed!

Art Activity Inspired by Fine Art Adventures

Patterns: Lines, shapes, and colors

Henry Matisse’s The Snail is featured in Fine Art Adventures on page 10. Our Art Masterpiece collection used a print of Matisse’s Purple Robe and Anemones, which is a lovely painting full of vibrant colors and patterns. Although it seems like re-creating the look of the print for an art project might require multiple media and drying time between layers, the secret is to use color changing markers. The markers allow the young artist to fill an area with one color and then add lines/patterns by drawing over the filled area with the color changer pen. Fun and easy!

Share image of Henry Matisse’s Purple Robe and Anemones
Ask the students look for repeating lines or shapes that make patterns. Look at the robe, the wall, the floor, the vase. What about the designs on the tablecloth? Do any of the patterns repeat in other areas, perhaps in another color? Are there any places without lines? (the flowers, fruit, woman’s face)
Gather:

Color Changing Markers
Paper
Other art supplies such as Sharpies, cray pas, etc. (optional)

Crayola Color Changing Markers

Let the children experiment with the markers and/or explain how to use the markers, if needed. For a project inspired by the painting, have them draw a simple vase on a table. Add flowers and fill in the background by adding repeating lines and shapes to different areas.

Once they’ve gotten the idea, let their imaginations soar.

Looking for a way to make this a STEAM project? Check out this video which explains a bit about how the color changing markers work and how to do an experiment to discover more.

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Age Range: 6 and up
Grade Level: 1 and up
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (September 1, 2017)
ISBN-10: 0912777044
ISBN-13: 978-0912777047

Disclosure: This book was supplied by the publisher for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

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June 8, 2015

Hot Summer Read: Big Top Burning

For Nonfiction Monday we have a scorching new release from Chicago Review Press, Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and The Greatest Show On Earth by Laura A. Woollett, just in time for summer reading.

Big Top Burning chronicles the 1944 Hartford Circus Fire, which occurred during a performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barney & Bailey Circus. While the spectators were watching the Flying Wallendas high wire act, the big top tent caught fire. In only 10 minutes the whole thing had burned down, killing 167 people and injuring many more. It is one of the worst fire disasters in U.S. history.

Illustrated with black and white photographs from before, during and after the fire, and sprinkled with numerous quotes from spectators and victims, the readers feel like they’ve gone back in time to witness events firsthand. Although told in chronological order (with the disaster described at the first part of the book), the story does not lose impact because of the lingering questions that remain even to this day. How did it happen? Was it an accident or was it arson? Why were so many people trapped and killed? The event is not only a tragedy, but also a lasting mystery.

Woollett has done a wonderful job of keeping the story interesting, without slipping either into sensationalism or being pedantic. Her background in writing for reluctant readers is evident, and this title would be a good choice for older reluctant readers. She also deserves credit for the impressive amount of research she must have undertaken, as evidenced by the copious notes section in the back matter.

Big Top Burning is nonfiction at its finest. Readers, from middle grade and up, will not be able to put the book down.

Age Range: 10 and up
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (June 1, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1613731140
ISBN-13: 978-1613731147

Disclosure: The book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

nonfictionmonday

Looking for more children’s nonfiction books? Try the Nonfiction Monday blog.

March 16, 2015

Spring Into Art With Modern Art Adventures

Spring is just around the corner and what better way to get into a festive mood than with a great book to inspire art projects?

Modern Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Artists from Monet to Banksy by Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw is like a hands-on children’s art museum. It features art history, examples of artwork of famous artists to study, and 36 fresh and imaginative hands-on projects to take learning to another level.

The book is divided into seven chapters , each of which cover a modern movement or category of art:

Impressionism
Expressionism
Portraits
Abstract Art
Graphic Art
Pop Art
Street Art

Within each chapter are introductions to specific pieces of work of two or three artists that embody that category. (In the back matter are short biographies of each artist for those who want to delve deeper. ) Following are two hands-on projects inspired by each artwork that teach children about an array of different media and techniques. Because there are two projects, the reader has a choice of doing one or both of the activities depending on constraints of time, supplies and/or interest.

Each project is shown a two-page spread. An example of the finished project is shown on one page, with step-by-step instructions (including photographs of the project in progress) and a materials list on the other.

As a former Art Masterpiece volunteer, I love this book. Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw are experienced art teachers and writers. Their real life experience is evident throughout the book. These are projects that could be easily carried out at home, in the classroom, or in an after school program setting. They require art supplies, but most of them are easy enough to find. Even the larger grocery stores are carrying and array of art supplies for kids these days. The only thing I would say even remotely questionable is the choice of calling attention to graffiti-artist Banksy in a children’s book, but the art piece they choose to emphasize is fresh and highly appropriate.

The bottom line is every child deserves to be exposed to art and Modern Art Adventures is a wonderful way to accomplish that. Pick up a copy and help youngsters start producing their own masterpieces today!

Related activity inspired by the book:

Shamrock Art Activity for St. Patrick’s Day

Gather:

Photographs, illustrations or living “shamrock” leaves (ours is pink woodsorrel, Oxalis debilis)
Pencil
Oil pastels in shades of green
Art paper
Blending tool or vinyl eraser (optional)

If you use living plant material, you may want to flatten it in an old book for 30 minutes to an hour to make it easier to trace. If you are using illustrations or photographs, cut out the shamrock shape.

1. Arrange the shamrocks in a pleasing design on the paper.

2. Trace around the leaves or cutout shamrocks lightly with a pencil.

3. Remove the leaves or cutout shamrocks.

4. Cover the pencil outline with a thick line of oil pastel in shades of green.

5. Using a finger, blending tool or vinyl eraser, pull the color into the center of the leaf evenly. This will give a smooth, shaded appearance. Wash your fingers before changing colors.

Extension: More advanced artists may want to fill the shamrocks with oil pastels and blend in layers of colors. This instructional video from Jerry’s Artarama will give some details how to do this.

Age Range: 6 and up
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (April 1, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1613731779
ISBN-13: 978-1613731772

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March 6, 2015March 6, 2015

Zoology for Kids

This week we have a fabulous new book from Chicago Review Press, Zoology for Kids: Understanding and Working with Animals, with 21 Activities (For Kids series) by Josh Hestermann and Bethanie Hestermann, with a foreword by the Kratt Brothers.

Josh Hestermann is a zoologist who works as a marine-mammal trainer at the Aquarium of the Pacific. His wife, Bethanie Hestermann. is a freelance writer. This combination of animal expert and writing expert have created a unique book that includes both an introduction to the science of zoology and an overview of career options for those interested in animals. Children can learn about animal structure and behavior, as well as what it is like to be a zookeeper, veterinarian, wildlife researcher, and conservationist. Sprinkled throughout are 21 awesome hands-on activities to encourage readers to delve deeper and reinforce learning, such as inventing a new species, demonstrating a butterfly’s life cycle and using animal behavior techniques to train a human friend.

The book has some nice extras. In addition to the exciting introduction by TV stars the Kratt Brothers, it also begins with timeline that reveals some of the significant advancements in zoology. The timeline starts with an entry for Aristotle, who is credited as the Father of Zoology and goes to the astonishing discovery of the olinguito (a member of the raccoon family) in 2013. Sidebars contain in depth information, such as discussion of altruism, or quotes from zoologists. Many of the projects also contain suggestions for extensions, labelled as “extra credit.”

As with all the books in the “for Kids” series, although the book is definitely written for middle graders, it is also an invaluable resource for educators. Anyone teaching a unit on animals will want to have a copy of this book on the shelf for project ideas. Librarians will want to have it as a go-to resource for information on animals and career options for those interested in animals, as well.

Many of the projects could be easily adapted for younger children. For example, older kids can make their own bat fruit salad, but younger children would certainly enjoy eating one (dare I say while reading Stellaluna?) Zoology for Kids is one of those rare books that is really for almost all ages!

Giveaway for this book and related activities at Growing With Science blog.

Zoology for Kids Website

Age Range: 9 and up
Grade Level: 4 and up
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (March 1, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1613749619
ISBN-13: 978-1613749616

Disclosures: The book was supplied by the publisher for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.