You Call That Art?!: Learn About Modern Sculpture and Make Your Own

Gr 7 Up—Here's a title that is what it's about—a book about sculpture that is also a sculptural work in itself. The pages of the book are set directly into the left-hand side, and the text opens with a brief history of sculpture from its prehistoric beginnings, then discusses 10 modern sculptors, including Auguste Rodin, Louise Nevelson, Pablo Picasso, and Alexander Calder. The right-hand side contains an envelope filled with 10 sets of cardboard die-cut pieces that readers may use, guided by accompanying instructions, to assemble six "planned" sculptures designed by the authors; there are also additional pieces for readers' individual creations. While the reading level is geared to older middle school students and higher, those without knowledge of sculpture may find some of the reading rough going, as there are some sophisticated concepts here. Some definitions in context seem confusing, and not all terms are defined in the glossary. The explanation of the term monochromatic is also misleading, as it's defined as "all black or all white." The authors helpfully mention where works by each artist may be seen, but they neglect to include some of the artwork that they cite. The title's packaging also does it a disservice. The unremovable book and inclusion of the punch-out pieces preclude general purchase for public or school libraries. Another problem is the deceptive appearance of the book: the cover, the format, and even the perky title set in a large font suggest the work is skewed to a much younger audience. In a school setting, this title would work best as a purchase for individual art classes as a reference resource, provided that the cardboard sculptures will be disassembled, placed back in the envelope, and reused by other budding student-artists.—Carol Goldman, Queens Library, NY