Paging Young Readers

Art History For Kids

By JANET ZAREM Children’s Literature Columnist Rarely has art history been so child-friendly as in Christine Bjork’s 1987 book, ‘Linnea in Monet’s Garden.’ ‘Linnea’ marries the story of a fictional girl to historical and artistic information about Monet and other Impressionists. Still in print, it remains as fresh as the flowers at Giverny themselves. ‘Linnea’ aims its text at readers 8 through 12, though it also boasts numerous adult fans. Fortunately for the picture-book crowd, books which feature younger children and great artists are becoming increasingly popular. Two authors, James Mayhew and Laurence Anholt, have created series in which children take center stage to introduce renowned names in the European artistic canon. Their books include illustrations of famous paintings and sculptures. (Concerned parents, take note: these books are heavily edited for 3- to 7-year-olds’no ear slashing, nervous breakdowns or naked ladies). In James Mayhew’s ‘Katie’ books, a young girl, powered by her imagination, enters one painting after another, enjoying adventures with its subjects, when she and her grandmother tour a museum. In ‘Katie Meets the Impressionists,’ she transports herself into paintings by Monet, Renoir and Degas. In ‘Katie and the Sunflowers,’ she visits Expressionist works by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne. In ‘Katie and the Mona Lisa,’ she romps through Renaissance paintings by da Vinci, Botticelli, Carpaccio and Raphael. Brief artist biographies follow each story. In his five books, Laurence Anholt takes another approach. The children in these books are historical figures who encountered the artists Anholt presents. Short biographies explain the relationships between the children and the artists. In ‘Leonardo and the Flying Boy,’ one of da Vinci’s apprentice pupils, the boy Zoro, discovers his master is both a brilliant artist and a visionary scientist. Zoro’s flight in Leonardo’s proto-airplane forms the core of the story. In ‘The Magical Garden of Claude Monet,’ the girl Julie longs to visit the country. Her mother accompanies her and her naughty dog, Louey, to Giverny. In real life, Julie Manet was the daughter of Impressionist artist Berthe Morisot. In ‘Camille and the Sunflowers,’ the lad Camille introduces Van Gogh and his famous yellow house through portraits the artist painted of Camille and his family. Brightly colored illustrations leaven the story of Van Gogh’s tragic life, told simply, without unnecessary detail or drama. In ‘Degas and the Little Dancer,’ Anhold frames the story of Marie van Goethen, the young dancer who posed for Degas’ famous sculpture, in a series of flashbacks from the present to Marie’s own time and story. In ‘Picasso and the Girl With a Ponytail,’ Sylvette David meets the still vigorous 73-year-old Picasso and becomes his (platonic) muse and model. Through his changing portraits of Sylvette, children learn about Cubism. Sylvette still lives. Born in 1934, she herself became an artist, now named Lydia Corbett. All these books make viewing art a vital, personal experience for children living in a time dominated by television and computer screens. Look at them and see for yourself.