Book Finder

Long ago, a bespectacled boy dreamed of color in his drab industrial French town. Henri’s world exploded with color when, as an adult, he was given a box of paints. The contrast in Henri’s life is brought to life through straightforward text and black and white illustrations juxtaposed with those brilliantly hued to evoke the artist’s recognizable style.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American artist born of a Haitian father and a Brooklyn born mother of Puerto Rican decent, became known as an artist whose work effectively made social commentary. The original illustrations call to mind Basquiat’s visual style while presenting his life and unique work, which broke old tenets of art to became popular in the 1980s.

Photographs — many taken during the event and on site — document the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his now-famous “I Have a Dream” speech. A lucid text provides information about the Civil Rights Movement, general information about the period, and its impact. The images, however, have their own power even without the worthy narration. 

In 1958, photographer Art Kane gathered up a who’s who of jazz musicians on a New York City street for what is now an iconic image of African American artists. Original poems accompanied by vivid paintings depict the period, the people, and more. Not only is the original photo included, so are short biographies of each of the musicians as well as additional resources sure to inspire further exploration.

Writer extraordinaire, Walter Dean Myers, created original poetry to accompany selections of late 19^th (perhaps early 20^th) Century monochromatic photographs of African American children. The result is a handsome, sepia-toned album of poems and pictures that not only read aloud well but also capture the universal joys of children and childhood. 

The best thing to calm Ansel down was the outdoors. The story of how a fidgety boy would evolve into a celebrated nature photographer is told in textured collages and lively text. Additional information about Adams and several of his iconic photographs conclude this engaging book.

Ted spruces up his home and school and helps another young person by employing his artistic talent and creativity. Simple illustrations accompany an engaging text.

Mira brings color and builds community through her beautiful art which she first gives to individuals and then has them contribute their own paintings. Based on an Urban Art Trail in San Diego, the animated illustrations evoke Mexican folk art while remaining child-like. 

Why would it be cancelled? What villain has added the red scribble to the picture book stage? With tongue in cheek, the author presents another humorous look at the life and interactions of crayons, this time riffing on old horror movies. Bold crayon characters (and scribbles) appear on open pages with varied typeface.

Full of learning and fun for today’s preschoolers and their parents! Bursting with lively photographs, engaging stories, and interactive picture games, each issue supplies you with fresh and imaginative teaching tools created by noted educators at National Geographic.

Harriet Powers was born into slavery but learned a great deal about fabric and quilting which she used when freed after the Civil War. Her story unfolds in upbeat illustrations and informative text. An author’s note provides additional insight into the artist and her quilts.

Stunning photographs accompanied by lyrical text describe rain and its effects in a rainforest and on people. This handsome book can be read as poetry, examined for its photography, and/or used as an introduction to the water cycle and weather.

The author/illustrator’s look back at his early years started in Drawing from Memory (2011) continues here. Allen doesn’t really fit in at his father’s friend’s Southern California military academy.  Leaving it was the start of a journey toward finding the artist within. Told through a variety of artistic pieces and styles and a highly person narration, readers will empathize and ache with this Caldecott winning artist. 

The narrator is convinced she’ll never get a star next to her name. She’s not particularly good at anything — that is, until her teacher, Mrs. Benson, discovers Rose’s real talent is art. Almost childlike illustrations are the ideal complement to Rose’s voice in this encouraging tale.

Children come together to explore unknown territory depicted in delicate, highly detailed line illustrations that flow from page to page. Sharp angles in limited colors are used to focus the eye and require close examination to tell the story that is likely to change with each reader.

A boy learns from his art teacher at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that “anything can be in an art exhibit” when it tells a story, is unique, makes the viewer feel good, and more — making his grandmother the ideal subject for a painting! Cartoon illustrations combine with reproductions of actual work from the Met for an intriguing introduction to museums and art.

A boy in a fedora uses his pen to travel, grow, “make giants of old men/who have seen better days” (an homage to his late father, Walter Dean Myers), and visit places real and imagined. Black and white line drawings and sophisticated, poetic language effectively convey the power of art and imagination and are sure to spark conversation.

Her mom takes the crayons away when Liza uses the wall as her canvas, but she discovers a world of color anyway.

Are you ready to shake and mix to make new colors? “Tap the gray spot…to see what happens.” With a turn of the page many colors appear for readers to mix. Simple blobs of color and simple instructions on uncluttered pages creatively present color mixing.

Mixed media illustrations evoke artist Frida Kahlo and lyrical language is used to suggest her life. Rather than a biography, this homage to art and an artist is visually stunning and will likely generate interest in many topics. An afterward about Frida in Spanish and English culminates the presentation.

In an afterword, the author asks if an artist can be a hero or an explorer. The answer is sure to be a resounding ‘yes’ after examining this thoughtful, attractive and informative overview of artist Edward Hopper and his work. Several Hopper paintings, selected quotes, additional resources and a note from the illustrator are included.

Unique puppets created from stones, shells and other found objects on a Maine beach launch stories and poems. In the hands of an award-winning master storyteller, poet, author and illustrator, each poem or tale becomes a memorable experience. Bryan and his puppets are shown in vibrant, full-color photographs.

In an attractive, sturdy package, readers are invited to learn about the history of sculpture and several prominent sculptors (such as Rodin and Duchamp). Then readers are invited to create their own cardboard structures, called “a maquette — a French word for a small study of the sculpture…” Ready-to-punch-out pieces and instructions are included.

An unnamed narrator dreams he has visited the studio of artist Henri Matisse where he meets the artist himself. Matisse’s words and mixed media illustration are used to explore Matisse’s paper cutouts briefly but effectively. Color, line and language introduce not only an artist but are sure to inspire further exploration.