Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse

by Patricia Thomas, Craig Orback (Illustrator)

In a visually stunning picture book, inspirational poems imagine each season drawn in a different art medium, from pastel chalks that make spring flowers come to life to bold oils that capture the glorious colors of fall.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Nature

30 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Patricia Thomas was the author of several picture books, including Firefly Mountain; “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!”; “There are Rocks in My Socks,” Said the Ox to the Fox; and The One-and-Only, Super-Duper, Golly-Whopper, Jim-Dandy, Really Handy Clock Tock Stopper. She taught writing for children at Marywood University and at the Institute for Children’s Literature. Thomas passed away in 2021.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So with regard to the poetry penned and presented by Patricia Thomas’s in her 2007 picture book Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse, for me and in my humble opinion, Thomas’ descriptively delightful free form, non rhyming verses, they generally and successfully capture the essence, they focus on the very heart of winter, spring, summer and fall (and also, on how one should paint or draw the four seasons, that there are different types of art materials and methods to be used for each of them).

And indeed, I also do very much appreciate and even intensely love how Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse starts with winter and once again concludes with winter, and that from her printed words, that from her poetry, Patricia Thomas obviously is (and very much like me, I might add) a total fan of winter. For I certainly do find it occasionally rather annoying that picture books about in particular winter often seem to show mostly how cold and how dreary winter can be, but that thankfully and happily, in the parts about winter of Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse, Patricia Thomas does totally and absolutely celebrate winter as a season (and this even though the accompanying artwork is mostly black and white, to show that for winter, the best type of colouring agent to be used would be pen and ink).

But while Patricia Thomas also and of course both textually and visually celebrates spring, summer and autumn in Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse, for me personally in particular the spring and summer themed artwork (but actually not so much the text, not so much Thomas’ spring and summer poetry) rather feels kind of too focussed on people and not enough on nature (as indeed, there are for me too many pictures of humans and of formal gardens in the spring and summer sections, something that I do wish were not the case, for the artwork for spring and summer in Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse is for my aesthetics not really “green” enough and in particular so if compared to the almost entirely nature themed artwork for the sections on fall and winter).

Still though, even with me not finding Patricia Thomas’ spring and summer artwork sufficiently nature oriented enough for me, both textually and illustratively Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse has been a true delight and as such also a solid four stars.

[Cheryl]

also hoopla at metro

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book moves as a single poem throughout the seasons, rhyming and rhythmic and capturing with clarity each season. The book also combines an understanding of art with the verse, moving from medium to medium to evoke each season as pure and distinct from the others. Winter is done in pen and ink, spring in pastels, summer in watercolors and autumn in oils. And each illustration shows why that is true in the same way as the dazzling poetry does. While I enjoyed the poetry throughout the book, I am filled with amazement and wonder at the autumn section where Thomas' verse gets as voluptuous and full as the season itself. The book begins with spare verse about winter, slowly developing throughout the year until autumn arrives and the boundlessness of the season, the colors is almost overwhelming. Colors are described as "redorangepurplebronzeindigogoldgreen." And you know just what she means. It is a joy to read, to dance along with these words and these illustrations through the year.

Highly recommended as a read aloud. You won't be able to read it to yourself anyway when you reach those colorful words in autumn because they beg to be read aloud and come to life. Add this one to your seasonal story times or units. Plus it can be enjoyed by art classes looking at different media where children understanding the seasons already can relate. Children aged 6-9 will enjoy this best of all.

[Clare Swapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrative poem picture book for middle elementary readers is an impressive blend of poetry and artwork that complement each other wonderfully, creating a book that is incredibly visually appealing. The deliberately formed lines are full of engaging sound elements and figurative language like metaphors, onomatopoeias, and repetition of consonants- “fluffy, puffy, pillowy, billowy”. The verse enthralls readers with descriptions of colors related to the seasons, starting with winter and eventually circling through to nature finding it again on the last page. The artwork is just as impactful as the words in moving the narrative through the seasons, with each section using a fitting medium- black ink pen lines with minimal splotches of color for winter, pastel chalk for spring, bright watercolors for summer, and rich oil paints for autumn. The mediums both blend and contrast on the pages that transition from one season to the next.

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In this inspiring picture book, poet Patricia Thomas imagines each season rendered in a different art medium. Pen and ink, with spots of color, capture winter's mood, while pastel chalks make spring flowers bloom into life. The see-through hues of watercolors celebrate summer's warmth, while vibrant oils perfectly paint fall's majestic scenes." Amazing art and delightful poetry...a must read!!

[Turrean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book in praise of art and poetry. Would be a great intro to various media in an art class.

[Yvonne Foy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool illustrations.

[Katelyn Stapleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry was absolutely beautiful.
I loved how the illustrations changed with the seasons and the words. The words in this were so poetic and rhythmic. There was such a beautiful flow and the descriptions of each season were vivid and immersive. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. It is a beautiful piece of poetry.
I would absolutely have this in my classroom. And I think it would be a great poem to look at with students during each changing. I think most elementary students should look at this in parts, not all at once. But analyzing all of the beautiful literary aspects of this would really help students fall in love with poetry and this book.

[Hridoy Hoque · Rating 4 out of 5]

সুন্দর

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrated by one of my instructors. Love having four art techniques in one book.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept that the text is one long poem about the seasons, but even better is the illustrators use of four different media to represent the colors of each season.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:
very pretty
4 art styles are perfectly suited to the seasons
not a book the kids wanted to re-read but glad we looked at it