Supriya's Banter
Anna’s Art Adventure
Hardcover–Picture Book
Author- Bjorn Sortland
Illustrator- Lars Elling
Publisher: 21st Century (March 1, 1999)
Language: English
Hardcover: 39 pages
Reading age: 4 – 8 years
Theme- art, fantasy, artists
Rating-4/5
This book is like a mini art appreciation course! If you are interested in artwork, artists, their techniques, styles, and famous paintings, look no further. This book is just what you need to introduce them to your kids.
Little Anna is stuck with our uncle Harold at the art museum; she promises to be good while he shows people around. But an unforeseen problem compels Anna to wander, looking for a restroom (because when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go). Her hunt for a washroom takes her on a crazy quest through twentieth-century paintings, where she rubs elbows with prominent artists and creators, learning a sliver about their skills and styles.
Sortland’s writing is whimsical, and Elling’s art complements and matches the tone to the T.
There is Rembrandt with his self-portrait, Edvard Munch chatting about his Red and White, Vincent Van Gogh in his straw hat and the obsession with the color yellow, Picasso with his cubism, Andy Warhol with his Soup-Can painting, and Marc Chagall with his flying pictures. Not to forget Paul Cezanne describing his famous artwork—the Basket of Apples, Mattise, and Jackson Pollock elaborating on their style and approaches in a humorous and child-friendly way.
Some of the depicted artworks simulate the artist’s style, while others are a sort of ode to the composer, keeping the fine details sacrosanct. The endnotes summarizing the artists, outstanding artworks, and techniques complete the package.
A creative, clever, and imaginative book! A must-read for all art aficionados!
I wish someone wrote this kind of book for the Indian artists as well!
Easy Readability
conversation-starter
Entertainment Quotient
Some of the depicted artworks simulate the artist’s style, while others are a sort of ode to the composer, keeping the fine details sacrosanct. The endnotes summarizing the artists, outstanding artworks, and techniques complete the package. A creative, clever, and imaginative book! A must-read for all art aficionados!
