Earth, Sea, Sun, and Sky

Gr 6—8—A conversational writing style combines with many color photographs and drawings to convey information about art inspired by nature. In the beginning, Stieff describes the historical development of gardens and how they are an art form. She moves on to provide many examples of how art is found on land, in water, and in the air. The photographs, which range in size, further illuminate the text. Throughout the work, references are made to activities detailed in the final section. These projects, which include making daisy soup, learning some water games, forming seed balls, and creating pictures in water, encourage readers to look at or create art. One project recommends growing runner beans, which the text cautiously notes are edible when cooked but toxic when consumed raw. This title will appeal to children and adults who enjoy learning about art as well as teachers, who will find material here for art lessons and science extensions.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH