This Is Leonardo da Vinci

Gr 7–10—This title mixes Christoforou's beautiful pencil illustrations among reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous works. Within these images are also brief descriptions of da Vinci's life, from his beginnings as an illegitimate child to his apprenticeship with Andrea del Verrocchio, a highly respected artist in 16th-century Florence. Through this experience with Verrocchio, da Vinci was commissioned for many projects and was able to prove himself on the art scene with this unique talent. It is interesting to note that owing to da Vinci's upbringing with his grandfather, a notary, he was an exceptional notetaker. This title pieces together much of the master's life through his notes and rough sketches of projects. Limited descriptions of various aspects of the artist's life are accompanied by full-page illustrations with captions or asides in a difficult-to-read font. The short passages also include advanced vocabulary words.