It’s ideal as the basis of a daily or weekly art lesson.  It’s also a great preparation for taking young children to art museums.  In fact, it’s one of the best I’ve seen, for that purpose.

Each letter of the alphabet is matched to an art-related word.  The word — like the book — is in English, but it’s also provided in Spanish, German, and French.  Each letter is also represented with Sign language.  This expands the use of the book in any classroom setting.

The illustrations in the book are delightful.  They aren’t too intimidating for young children, and will definitely appeal to them.  They’re colorful and fun.

The brief definition of each art-related word will give teachers enough to work with, to teach effectively.  They’re even more useful if the teacher spends a little time online or with art books, learning more about the subject to explain it in more depth.

I especially like that the book includes several complex art concepts, and it doesn’t “talk down” to children.

This kind of book is ideal for a homeschool group, teaching children at  multiple grade levels.

For teaching a class, or reading to more than a very small group of children, larger illustrations will be helpful.  The examples in the book are too small to be seen beyond the second row in a classroom setting.

However, many school and public libraries have excellent books to supplement what’s in “…The ABC’s of Art.”  (Every book has its limits, and this one addresses that issue well.)

The price of the book reflects the full-color pages, but it may be a little price-y for a teacher or homeschooler who is taking this out of his or her personal budget.

However, this is a very useful book for a department, school library, or public library to purchase.  It will be greatly appreciated by teachers.

As a starting point for a daily or weekly art theory lesson, this is a book that teachers have needed for a long time.

Pros

• Every page is in color, and has a lot of visual appeal.
• The terminology doesn’t “talk down” to children.
• Helpful tips make it easy for teachers to share this information without an art background.

Cons

• The price of this large paperback book  isn’t competitive with some art books from larger publishers.
• Images of the art being described are small for students to see from a distance.

(Aside from the price, I had to look hard to find a second negative comment to make.)

If you are buying books for a public or school library, I think this is a must-buy.  If you frequent your public or school library, recommend this book as a useful resource for teachers and parents.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Herman The Jester and The ABC’s of Art
Price: USD 23.99

14 used & new available from USD 4.00

All of her projects are rated either easy, moderate or advanced and can be used with all ages.

The lessons are well written and easy to follow. Tips to evaluate the artwork are included at the end of each lesson. Both 2-D and 3-D projects are included.

A chapter with simple recipes for assorted pastes, paint and clay is included as well as a glossary of terms. Black and white photo are included throughout the book.

There are some great ideas presented here to encourage creativity and experimentation. She also inspires students to incorporate the elements of art into their work.

Positives:

• The projects are low cost. Anyone can afford them.
• Most projects can be used for all ages. Older students can incorporate some of the techniques into more advanced art projects.
• The projects are fun and creative.

Negatives:

• Many of the projects, as written, are too easy for high school students.
• All of the illustrations are black and white.

Glorious Glue!: Art With Adhesives
Price: USD 16.37

18 used & new available from USD 3.95

Starting with Giotto and continuing on through current artists, Ms. Kohl and Ms. Solga have created multiple art lessons based on individual artist.

Each lesson includes a very brief biography, a list of materials and an easy to follow process.

All the illustrations are black and white. They include student work, work of the featured artist and some are illustrations by the authors.

All the lessons have a key that designates their art technique, the artist style, amount of planning and prep and the experience level of the student.

Most lessons are designed for elementary students, but with some adjustments, many could be used at the middle school level.

Lessons include both 2-D and 3-D projects.

The last chapter has additional games and activities. An extensive resource guide and glossary is also included in the book.

Pros:

• Lessons are art history based
• Lessons are well organized by date and style

Cons:

• Book is geared for elementary aged students only
• Color illustrations would be helpful in appreciating the artists’ work

Read others’ reviews and buy this book at Amazon.com

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (Bright Ideas for Learning)
Price: USD 12.89

57 used & new available from USD 8.00

The Polymer Clay Techniques Book

Nevertheless, Sue Heaser has an outstanding reputation and presents a great range of projects.

There’s something here that would appeal to every member of your family, and that can’t be said for most art and craft books!

I like the sections on inclusions and simulating semi-precious stones. There is also a good introduction to using wire armatures and sculpting figures.

Summary

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The Polymer Clay Techniques Book
Price: USD 15.63

55 used & new available from USD 8.47

“In a world where differences in culture and ethnicity sometimes bring conflict, learning about cultural differences in arts and crafts can help students appreciate and respect one another.”

Though first published in 1981, this quote from “Art From Many Hands” still rings true.

Ms. Schuman covers fine arts and crafts from all over the world, including Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean and North America. The history of each art form is first presented along with examples of finished work and tools. Detailed instructions for projects suitable for elementary and middle school students follow. Where possible, alternate materials and tools are suggested for teachers on a limited budget.

Examples of student art work are shown in both black and white and color. An extensive bibliography in included at the end of the book for those wishing to do further research.

I especially like the fact the she encourages students to create their own artwork using the techniques presented rather than copying a project step by step. Not only are students learning about other cultures, but they are learning to use their own creativity.

CONS: Not enough large, color pictures to show as examples for classrooms without access to the real thing.

PROS: Many different ideas for projects are presented with clear instructions on how to teach them in the classroom.

Summary

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Art From Many Hands: Multicultural Art Projects Revised Expanded Edition
Price: USD 19.77

28 used & new available from USD 12.78

This is a wonderful book if you are interested in learning about using photographs as reference material. The author gives explicit information on photographing flowers, people, animals and still life. She includes tips on lighting and painting the illusion of light.

She also includes solid information on making enlargements, as well as simplifying, cropping and combining photos to get the best composition.

There are many excellent photographs that show the early, middle and end steps of a painting, including color suggestion. Her text is well organized and easy to follow.

The author also has a section on some of the most asked student questions such as how to paint brilliant darks and how to paint the folds of fabric.

I have used this book extensively in teaching high school students. There are many wonderful tips for scaling and enlarging images, easy perspective tricks and painting different types of details.

CONS: This book in not for beginning watercolorists. Information on paint, brushes, paper and basic techniques is not included. In addition, while all the photos are excellent, they are only from the author.

PROS: Even though this book is about painting with watercolors, there is excellent information on taking and using photographs, composition, perspective and lighting that can be applied to any media you happen to be working with. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their painting skills.

Summary

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Painting Beautiful Watercolors from Photographs
Price: —

38 used & new available from USD 7.09

This book is full of these kinds of activities. Chapters include information on the Stone Age, Egypt, the Greek and Romans, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Post-Renaissance, Pre through Post-Impressionism, Modern Art, Art of the Americas, Art of the Middle and Far East and Africa.

Also available is a set of art history slides that are keyed to specific activities. Paired together, the activities and slides offer an exciting approach to teaching about the art of the past.

CONS: Slides need to be available as DVD’s with more visuals included.

PROS: Lots of great ideas for younger students.

Summary

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Art Smart!: Ready-To-Use Slides and Activities for Teaching Art History and Appreciation
Price: USD 71.95

26 used & new available from USD 2.23

This text, now in it’s 10th edition, is a standby for elementary and middle school art educators. Using basic and readily available materials such as clay, chalk, crayons, paper and cardboard, teachers can find a wealth of ideas on how to use these materials creatively.

The instructions are simple enough that even those who have not had art training can use them in the classroom and at home.

The information on a child’s artistic developmental stages and on the teaching of art in general would be especially helpful for those teachers not trained as art educators.

CONS: Most suited to elementary students. The information presented is mostly on how to use the materials. Specific project ideas are not included.

PROS: Lots of different ways to use common materials. Good for programs on a tight budget.

Summary

Learn more about this book at
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A Handbook of Arts and Crafts
Price: USD 59.75

53 used & new available from USD 44.20