Art & Max
By Monica Mehta,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Award-winning picture book illustrates the creative process.
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Based on 1 parent review
highly inspirational!
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What's the Story?
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Max wants to learn how to paint from fellow lizard Art, an advanced artist. But when he misunderstands Art's direction to "paint me,"creative hijinks ensue. Max paints Art with acrylics, which then crack off with Art's anger to reveal pastels. Attempting to solve the problem, Max blows Art with a fan, revealing watercolors. As Art drinks water to feel better, the watercolors wash off to reveal a line drawing, which Max then pulls apart. He must then recreate Art, and the end product is truly inspired.
Is It Any Good?
Three-time Caldecott Medal winner David Wiesner does not disappoint in his latest book, which is essentially an exploration of artistic media through his characters. Each page of his bold, vivid illustrations is a piece of art in and of itself, and all of them are linked together with a humorous storyline that kids will connect to. It may even inspire them to try some art experiements of their own!
The creative process is deconstructed in the book's bold, captivating illustrations, which span a variety of artistic media - acrylic paint, watercolor and line drawing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the creative process. What inspires you when you draw? How do you decide what to draw, and what your drawing will look like?
Also, have you ever used the materials that Max paints with: acryclics, patels, watercolors, etc.? Which media is your favorite to do art with?
Book Details
- Author: David Wiesner
- Illustrator: David Wiesner
- Genre: Arts
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Clarion Books
- Publication date: October 4, 2010
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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