Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children

Come Look With Me Art Books

by Gladys S. Blizzard

COME LOOK WITH ME: ENJOYING ART WITH CHILDREN introduces students to twelve magnificent works of art. More importantly, they offer students and adults a whole new way of encountering any work of art, one that engages the imagination as much as the eye.

Well suited for both individual and classroom use, ENJOYING ART WITH CHILDREN pairs quality art reproductions with thought-provoking questions, encouraging students to learn through visual exploration and interaction. Thoughtful text introduces the world and work of the artist, making the most of a student's natural curiosity.

Genres: Art, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Education, History

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1996

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reproductions are of good quality, and I suppose the presence of children in the images would make it more appealing to kids. I didn't think the questions on the facing pages were very interesting and I personally would be able to make up just as good or better ones, but maybe other people aren't good at that. And when I was a kid I would rather have made up stories about what was going on in each image. I do really like the concept -- parents looking at art with their kids and talking about it -- but many regular art books would work just as well (in fact that's what my family used!) so there isn't a strong need to go out and buy this specific one.

Another suggestion for parents: look at art reproductions with your child and see which pictures they like best. Then cut out or copy the images and paste them into a magazine or scrapbook so you and your child can make his/her own art book together. My mother made a book like this when I was three or so (I'm sure she did all the gluing) and I loved it. You don't have to even use all "museum" type art, you can include material from other sources as well.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent beginning for observing artwork closely. The format is as follows: the left-hand page shows a painting (the 10-12 paintings in the book are from varied artists), the facing page includes questions to get kids looking at the details AND a description of the artist including biographical information and pertinent facts about the specific type of art work. My favorite part of the book was the last page which asks the reader to choose their favorite painting from the book and put it on display in the house.

We've been studying two books from this series the last few days and now we're going to the art museum to practice.

I plan to check out more books from this series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids especially enjoyed seeing how kids in the paintings dressed so differently than they do! Really enjoyable to go through a page a day with them. This was our first from the series.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the library to share with the kids during the start of summer break (next week), but the second they saw it, it was open. We went through the first couple of pictures, looking, asking questions and then I read about the painter and the painting (very brief, simple two-paragraph descriptions). They begged to "do" the next picture. We could have EASILY gone through the entire book in one sitting.

Helena, 5, enjoyed every aspect of it. The pictures, the questions, reading the questions (to my never ending shock), answering the questions, creating stories from the pictures and hearing about the artists. She was the most attentive.

Beatrice, 4, loved looking at the pictures, answering the questions the book asked, I asked, and even came up with her own (some pretty good ones too!). She would waver her attentiveness when we read about the artists.

Rhu, 2, just climbed all around us, sitting briefly near Helena to see the picture and then took off again.

The pictures in the book cover a range of artists and time periods. All the pictures are of children ~ definitely interesting to other children. The questions that the book asks and the ones you invariably come up with on your own are great as they get you thinking about the picture, its subject and art . . . all very age appropriately.

This is not a hand-it-to-your-child and walk away book. It's a sit-down-and-enjoy-it with your child book. Probably one of the reasons I like it so much! No cartoon characters (finally!) ~ just beautiful artwork that all ages can enjoy!!! I will definitely and happily be getting more books from this series for summer!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently choosing curriculum and books for my daughter's pre-k school year and checked this out from the library to glance through. She looked at the cover and said "I don't want to do that Mommy", but when I told her we would just look at one page, she agreed.

At the first question, she was hooked! We finished discussing the first portrait and she was begging to do some more.

Definitely something we will be using this year. I do not have an art background and, while I wanted to do some art appreciation with her, had no idea how to start. This book is PERFECT for me. Five minute discussions on famous portraits of children, already set up for you. Just read the background while your child looks at the picture, and then discuss the questions for each.

[Artlab]

Exploring art by looking at reproductions of famous works.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a neat idea for discussion with younger readers without necessarily getting over their heads, as far as art goes. Everyone can enjoy art, certainly! True, a lot of the core point of the art presented might be too involved for said younger readers, but it doesn't mean they can't find things to talk about! For instance, you don't need to know the history behind The Old Stagecoach (or even know what a "stagecoach" is in the first place) to appreciate it as children playing on a disused vehicle. You can certainly imagine what kinds of sounds the children are making, or compare it to a time you and your friends played on a similar large outdoor structure!

The one thing that bothers me *just* a little is the content is racially homogenous; there aren't any indigenous or non-white people portrayed in the book (possibly excepting Maya with [a] Doll, haha). It would be nice to have a version including racially diverse art featuring children. To be fair to the book's author, the most well-known "classical" art for English-speakers is heavily white-centric, so it would be much easier to find European and North American works than, say, African, Asian, or Latin/South American (and the African pieces that come to mind are sculptures). It would still be nice to have an updated version with a more diverse selection, even if the art is more contemporary than the ones featured here.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one is going to be a hit with my granddaugther. Babies and young children and lots of curly haired little girls just like her. I can't wait to hear what comments she has about the fancy dresses on the little boys. I think this just might convince her that the framed photo upstairs we have of her great grandfather is really how they dressed little boys.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a whole series of books like this. Excellent introduction to art appreciation for kids. 5+

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork and a great way to appreciate art with young children.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series that encourages children to look at the details in art and discuss what they see. This one features pictures of children by artists of different eras.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to look through with my five year old. I especially appreciate the blurbs of information about the artists and backgrounds to the paintings.

[Nancy Ovchinnikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series do introducing art history and art appreciation to children! Nice questions to guide looking and discussing the artwork.

[Portable · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Come Look With me series by Gladys S Blizzard is an absolutely wonderful inspiration point for getting children to appreciate art and to think creatively. Each picture has on its facing page a selection of questions and starting points for talking to children about the meaning of the painting, how it makes them feel, and a host of other thought-provoking discussions. This year I wanted to really expand our library's art books, not just to inspire creativity, but also to stimulate their critical thinking and reflection. A marvelous series.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty. Definitely worthy llibrary pick. Wish it was not interlibrary loan. Might be worth buying eventually.