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Montanari, Eva
6 Reviews
(4)
K-3
After a young ballerina unintentionally switches bags with Monsieur Degas, she must dash about nineteenth-century Paris to find him. The story, contrived as it is, acts as an effective vehicle for readers to learn about Impressionism. Using elements of works by Degas, Monet, Cassatt, and others, Montanari's illustrations provide a creative introduction to an artistic movement.
Reviewer: Chelsey Philpot
(4)
K-3
Alice wants a baby doll for her birthday; instead, her parents give her something that's "alive. It tells stories. It will stay with you all your life." Initially devastated, Alice treats the unbidden gift like a doll; eventually, it's revealed to be a book. Montanari's dynamically off-kilter illustrations, some depicting scenes from odd perspectives, may help tone down the didactic premise.
Reviewer: Nell Beram
(3)
K-3
Children will have no trouble figuring out the reason for bunny Little Tooth's worried thoughts: it's her first day at school. In Montanari's acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations, the world is sharp and angular, with pointy pencils and even pointy (and amusingly adroit) bunny ears. The nifty surprise ending will make this a comforting book to anxious kindergartners or first-graders and perhaps their parents, too.
Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke
(2)
K-3
With simple yet spunky text and distinctive illustrations, this book relates Mummy's heroic but doomed efforts to make everything perfectly fair among three sisters. Nevertheless, one sister is sure to cry out, "Why am I always last?" Italian artist Montanari pictures her snaggle-toothed, troll-like family from all angles. A fresh treatment of a perennial situation.
Reviewer: Lauren Adams
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2004
(4)
K-3
Translated by J. Alison James.
After being teased for riding a bicycle with training wheels, young dinosaur Stego Saurus removes them and promptly falls over. Encouragement from a larger young dinosaur convinces him to put them back on. The don't-run-before-you-can-walk message is communicated quite clearly, but the illustrations--of brightly colored, perpetually smiling dinosaurs--have a puzzling surreal quality.
Reviewer: Sharona Siegel
(4)
K-3
When some young African animals are asked by their teacher to paint crocodiles, each painting is rendered in the style of a different major artistic movement--expressionist, cubist, etc.--thereby exposing readers to different art theories and the value of having a unique perspective. Despite the clever premise, the text is plodding. Each stylized illustration features an interesting layout.
Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin
6 reviews
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