The Big Book of Art

PreS-Gr 2—This exploratory art-based picture book allows readers to play the role of artist simply with the turn of a page. Full of colorful scribbles, blobs, lines, and dots, the full-page designs are mostly abstract, which youngsters can mix, match, and overlap as they read. All of the sturdy, thick pages are cut in half, giving children the opportunity to create hundreds of different unique visual creations. Essential first letters, numbers, shapes, and symbols are represented in a variety of imaginative ways, making this an excellent addition to any early-literacy collection. Independent readers will feel inspired to pick their favorite pattern for their house, fish, car, or boat and mix and match lines to create the correct forms of letters, numbers, and symbols. The lack of text encourages dialogic reading between adult and child, enhancing visual and artistic literacy. The incorporation of vibrant colors, art styles, and imagery will give kids a wonderful introduction to art and is sure to inspire future artistic experimentation.—Natalie Braham, Denver Public Library