(4) K-3 Art Explorers series. On busy, crowded pages, this book introduces abstract artists Picasso, Léger, Matisse, Calder, O'Keeffe, and Gorky. Readers learn about the artists and the abstract movement by creating art themselves; face masks suggesting Picasso, mobiles in the spirit of Calder, and other projects help children experience art. Short biographies of the subjects are appended.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Art Encounters series. A well-known painting and its creator feature in each of these works of historical fiction. In Garden, a Persian girl seeks refuge at an artists' colony. In Mountains, a Chinese American boy goes to live with his uncle in Shanghai. A wounded soldier (Napoleon) works for Jacques-Louis David. The tales are complex and engrossing, with the artists' techniques illuminated in the stories' contexts. Timeline. Review covers these Art Encounters titles: Deep in the Mountains, Jackal in the Garden, and A Brush with Napoleon.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Art Encounters series. A well-known painting and its creator feature in each of these works of historical fiction. In Garden, a Persian girl seeks refuge at an artists' colony. In Mountains, a Chinese American boy goes to live with his uncle in Shanghai. A wounded soldier (Napoleon) works for Jacques-Louis David. The tales are complex and engrossing, with the artists' techniques illuminated in the stories' contexts. Timeline. Review covers these Art Encounters titles: Deep in the Mountains, Jackal in the Garden, and A Brush with Napoleon.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) YA Art Encounters series. A well-known painting and its creator feature in each of these works of historical fiction. In Garden, a Persian girl seeks refuge at an artists' colony. In Mountains, a Chinese American boy goes to live with his uncle in Shanghai. A wounded soldier (Napoleon) works for Jacques-Louis David. The tales are complex and engrossing, with the artists' techniques illuminated in the stories' contexts. Timeline. Review covers these Art Encounters titles: Deep in the Mountains, Jackal in the Garden, and A Brush with Napoleon.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) YA Art Encounters series. In this series, artists' processes are illumined through conversations with fictional protégés. This entry offers a twist, as Dali's possible madness is underscored by discussions with Jinx, an imagined character from an alternate (Daliesque) reality. The trope blurs real and surreal boundaries for readers in an attempt to mimic Dali's painting style, to mixed--sometimes very confusing--effect. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) 4-6 A note to adults about encouraging creativity is followed by colorful, crowded pages of text and reproduced artwork introducing the interests and techniques of six Pop artists. Raimondo also presents step-by-step instructions to create unique hands-on projects ("Mixed-Up Maps: Make art inspired by Jasper Johns"; "Time Capsule Collage: Make art inspired by Rauschenberg"). Biographical information about the artists is appended.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Art Encounters series. Inspired by Sargent's The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, this Gothic tale draws readers into the painter's relationship with a mysterious, eccentric family who may be hiding a terrible secret. The suspense is well maintained, but the ending is somewhat flat. Factual details of Sargent's life and work are included unobtrusively. An author's note provides further information. Reading list, timeline, websites.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA After walking from Texas to New Mexico, fifteen-year-old Parker collapses on Georgia O'Keeffe's doorstep. She feeds him; Parker steals a camera from her. When caught, he agrees to spend the next month working to repay his crime. The fictionalized biography of O'Keeffe provides the strength of the book, while a mundane mystery detracts from the fully realized historical backdrop.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(4) K-3 Art Explorers series. Busy-looking volumes identify various components of impressionism and surrealism, as represented in the works of Monet, Degas, Cassatt, Dali, Miró, and other artists. The books encourage parental guidance for children's self-expression when creating paintings, collages, sculptures, and other forms of art. Examples of young artists' work are included. Brief biographies of featured artists are presented at the end of each volume. Review covers these Art Explorers titles: Imagine That! and Picture This!

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Art Explorers series. Busy-looking volumes identify various components of impressionism and surrealism, as represented in the works of Monet, Degas, Cassatt, Dali, Miró, and other artists. The books encourage parental guidance for children's self-expression when creating paintings, collages, sculptures, and other forms of art. Examples of young artists' work are included. Brief biographies of featured artists are presented at the end of each volume. Review covers these Art Explorers titles: Imagine That! and Picture This!

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) K-3 Adapted by Lenny Hort. Illustrated by Anna Laura Cantone. Filomena, "the finest seamstress in Italy," specializes in wedding gowns. She finally gets the opportunity to sew the perfect wedding dress for herself when Filippo, the town mechanic, asks for her hand in marriage. He is soon forgotten as the dress takes up all of Filomena's time, with disastrous results. Sketchy, collage-like illustrations enliven the story and ameliorate the abrupt fairy-tale ending.

Reviewer: Andie Wurster

(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

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bimba Landmann. Nicolo's family and teacher try to discourage him from daydreaming about unicorns, but finally his grandfather shows he understands the importance of a vivid imaginative life. Although the message is heavy-handed, the stylized artwork of both the Venice setting and Nicolo's dreamy encounters with his unicorn glows with an almost magical light. Touches of gold leaf give the illustrations extra sparkle.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 4-6 Accompanied by her daughter, Jessica, Agatha Cat sets off around the world to find her sister, who has a penchant for travel and adventure. Their alternating diary entries describe their trip. The handsome book combines skillful gouache artwork, smaller pictures arranged in a scrapbook format, and a few letters that can be taken out of their envelopes. Unfortunately, this picture book, with its complicated, lengthy text, will have a limited audience.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Peters Day. This feline version of Le Roux's novel is fairly true to the original, although greatly abbreviated. However, the lengthy text, challenging vocabulary, small typeface, and a few underexplained jumps in the plot will deter readers. The thick black line used to define details and outline the figures in the artwork contributes to the story's gothic feel.

Reviewer: Anne St. John