Edgar Degas: Paintings That Dance (Smart About Art)

Maryann Cocca-Leffler (www.maryanncoccaleffler.com) lives in Amherst, New York.

Grade 1-3-The conceit behind these biographies is that they were written by elementary-grade students as reports on the painters. Each book opens with a letter from their teacher, "Ms. Brandt," outlining some questions the student might want to think about when preparing the assignment: why did you pick this artist; if you could ask him or her three questions what would they be; and did you learn anything that surprised you? Unfortunately, the end results are cluttered pages and possibly confusing content. While each book includes facts about the subject's life (birth date and place, childhood, work, etc.), it also incorporates little bits of information about the child who is writing the report. For example, Kristin, the "author" of Degas, includes her own self-portrait next to the artist's. The material presented on each subject is strictly biographical; there is no discussion of the artists' technique or place in art history. Colorful pages and lettering highlight the many reproductions, photographs, childlike drawings, and snippets of text. The "Getting to Know the World's Great Artists" series (Children's) presents solid factual information along with reproductions. However, for an engaging introduction to an artist by a fictional character, steer readers to Christina Bj?rk's Linnea in Monet's Garden (R & S, 1987) or Neil Waldman's appealing The Starry Night (Boyds Mills, 2001).
Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
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