Touch the Art: Make Van Gogh's Bed by Julie Appel, Amy Guglielmo

From the Publisher

The "Touch the Art" series is a fresh, funny introduction to fine art for kids.

"Jump inside" the paintings with fun, tactile pages that introduce children to the works of the world's greatest artists and their famous paintings. Each book in the "Touch the Art" series gives kids the chance to tug, snap, lift and pull their way through art history.

Make a big impression with these popular 19th century pieces of art. Tidy-up Van Gogh’s bed. Touch the flowers in Monet’s The Water Lily Pond: Green Harmony. Pull on the tulle tutu of Degas’ Prima Ballerina. Or cuddle the gauzy netting over Berthe Morisot’s The Cradle. Let your fingers do the walking through the Impressionist movement.

Children's Literature

One in the "Touch the Art" board book series, which will expose very young children to famous artists and important periods in art history. The book begins with a view of the artist's bedroom and includes a red blanket that is draped over it. Inside the book there is a painting by Degas titled L'Etoile, and kids can feel the texture of the ballerina's tutu. Also included are several other members or cotemporaries of the Impressionist School. I particularly liked the way this book opened with Van Gogh and closed with his famous painting The Stormy Night. The closing pages, entitled "Artifacts," present information about the paintings and the artists. These books could be used with any age group and in art programs. Teachers could challenge kids to make their own reproductions and to add a tactile element. Others in the series include Brush Mona Lisa's Hair, Feed Matisse's Fish, and Pop Warhol's Top.

School Library Journal

PreS-K-These board books, illustrated with some of the most famous Western masterpieces, encourage children to "touch the art." Each volume draws on a particular period, with Mona Lisa's Hair featuring the work of the Renaissance and Van Gogh's Bed the Impressionists. For each reproduction, a tactile element has been superimposed; for example, an earring on Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and a piece of tulle on one of Degas' ballerinas. In some cases the feature is small and somewhat hard to find (the fuzz on the peaches in a C zanne still life, the eyeglasses on the man in Grant Wood's American Gothic), despite the relatively large size of the books. Each selection is identified and accompanied by a brief text. The text of Mona Lisa's Hair is mostly interrogative and less engaging than the other books. It asks, "Do you have a mustache too?" Will children find this silly or condescending? Matisse's Fish opts for a more successful format, with the repetitive refrain of "What a busy day!" Van Gogh's Bed features a lively rhyming scheme, while that in Warhol's Top is more forced (delicious/nutritious/lettuce/messes). The final pages of the books include a date, location, and a description, along with biographical information on the artist for each "artifact." While the idea of introducing children to art at an early age is a noble one, pairing the touch-and-feel format to fine paintings doesn't quite work.-Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

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