Van Dog

by Mikołaj Pasiński, Gosia Herba (Illustrator)

Co by tu dzisiaj namalować? Van Dog, psi malarz, wyrusza w plener. Wczesnym rankiem rozstawia sztalugi, miesza farby, kontempluje krajobraz. Łąka budzi się do życia: ślimak szuka śniadania, mrówki zabierają się do pracy, dzieci grają w piłkę, orkiestra daje koncert, a wielka jaszczurka wyrusza w podróż do Tokio.
Ale zamieszanie! Trudno pracować w takim hałasie! Mimo to Van Dog maluje niestrudzenie aż do zmierzchu. Jakie dzieło stworzył tym razem? „Van Dog” jest pełną humoru opowiastką o sztuce, tworzeniu i obserwacji świata. Łączy klasyczną książkę obrazkową z wyszukiwanką.
Niedługie teksty w komiksowej formie zachęcą dziecko do samodzielnego czytania.
Do książki dołączony jest plakat niespodzianka.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Animals, Childrens, Dogs

48 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2021

Reviews

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSJ9v...

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surreal feast for the eyes.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful & quirky book!

[Erica Luck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can someone explain this book to me? I am so lost on what this is supposed to be. I get fun and exciting pictures, and it starts funny, but less than halfway in, I feel like I took one too many tabs of acid and landed myself on a horrible trip. From the suggestive poses to the phallic-looking mushrooms, what is going on? I get this had a cute idea, and it sounds fantastic in theory, but I am not sure the execution was nailed.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 1 out of 5]

An artist quietly begins his day painting in a meadow. As the day goes on, more people and creatures come and go. Their voices become overwhelming as Van Dog continues painting. Quite a weird book, it was visually stimulating but overwhelming full of unconnected characters.

[Khrystyna P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Неймовірна книжка з цікавими ілюстраціями.
Трьохрічка постійно просить читати ❤️

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture-book version of the Van Gogh Immersion Experience, this delightful tale describes “what a beautiful day to paint” it is indeed for Van Dog, replete with the menagerie of real and imaginary subjects that he depicts in his masterpiece. Detailed illustrations are saturated with color and chock full of dynamic action and chaotic energy. Loaded with onomatopoeia, the story would be fun a read-aloud, plus it provides a. excellent prompts for follow-up creative arts activities. Not recommended for bedtime.

[Marisa Gettas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I see a translated Children’s book I grab it from the library. 9x out of 10 they are amazing. This is no exception. All about Van Dog, aka Van Gogh. There are some great art jokes if you know Van Gogh’s work, but it’s not necessary to enjoy this wonderful, fantastical book.
Translated from Polish by the original author, Mikolaj Pa

[Kinga (oazaksiazek) · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,75

Kurczę, chyba nie zrozumiałam przesłania tej książki. Ani ilustracje mnie nie zachwyciły, ani te komiksowe dymki, ani ogólna historia.

Mam wrażenie, że w przyszłości jako książka wyszukiwanka też nie do końca się ona u nas sprawdzi.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An artist I listen to on the Interwebs, recommended this book for creative use of color and composition. Just delightful. Loved the style of flowers, the use of a bicycle, and Van Dog's focus while painting.

[Arlo Panzera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and fun book about art, friends, and patience. Hardly any dialogue, this book is fun to find all the fun details and watch the landscape progress into a busier and more chaotic scene with every page.

[Perplexing Scrubwren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Hannah Knisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is…weird. There’s not really a story, but younger kids might find the illustrations amusing.

[Anna Wooliver Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get the intent behind the illustration, but it is entirely too manic for an overstimulated mind like mine.

[Victoria Whipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

No level of distraction can throw this artist of their mission to paint, in a field, on a beautiful day.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot going on in this surreal book. Not really a teaching tool for Van Gogh, but a fun visual one to flip through!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t work for me.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was super weird, and there isn't a story to tie all of the overstimulating, random details together.

[Rebecca Caufman]

A dog spends all day outside painting while tons of things go on around him. Then he turns it in to a museum and the readers gets to see what he painted.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter loved the illustrations in this book, but had trouble following the chaotic story.

[Soseum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Achèté également pour les 3 ans de mon neveu car j’adore l’univers de cette illustratrice tout simplement.

[Robin Obara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too abstract

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the illustrations, but the story line isn’t great. So much potential though.

[Luca Morandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arte interessante e carina.
Ma un trip da acidi allucinante

[Anna Baboura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Αστείο, ευρηματικό, με στοιχεία κόμικ και τέχνη.

[Hannah Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Banger. Thank you Birmingham museums for stocking insane books. Felt like an acid trip.

[Austyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Translated Children's Books Month! Book 12/50 (Polish)

I'd give this book a one star rating if the illustrations weren't so nicely done. I like books with words and stories, and since this had neither, it simply wasn't for me. I also have to add to that my disappointment in thinking I was getting a cute story about Van Gogh but with a dog. I could see older kids thinking the pictures are funny and enjoying it for that reason, but otherwise I don't know who the audience is.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artist Van Dog (yes, he is a dog!) looks out of the window of his atelier and decides it’s a great day to paint outside. He sets up his easel and canvas at the park and gets to work. As the day goes on, more and more people, animals, and well, creatures come to the park to enjoy the day. Are they distracting him? Inspiring him? Who knows, as the artist keeps painting through the whole day.

Insects and animals grunt and huff, hiss and buzz. A little red worm settles on Van Dog’s beret and keeps watch. Kids, more animals, adults, a knight on his trusty steed, a marching band, a giant lizard wearing a wristwatch looking for Tokyo and a giant ape in a sweatband come by, but the artist still paints. He doesn’t stop for the aliens, the rain, a comet whooshing through the sky or the ice cream truck. He says very little, but speech bubbles from the surrounding park denizens are fun to read, as are the onomatopoeia of the animal sounds and the many activities surrounding him.

This picture book/graphic novel hybrid is a delight. Readers who enjoy finding lots of little details in a picture will love the whimsical details here in the panoramic spreads, and finding changes as the sun sets, bringing a lovely purple night sky. There are lots of art-related motifs and items to find as readers watch a professional at work. The endpapers are full of artworks – perhaps they are also Van Dog’s? This Polish import is a winning title to inspire little artists and their families.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

“This is some weird book”, says an ant. He needn’t tell me, for this is just too bonkers for its own good. A very Vincent van Gogh-like dog goes out into the countryside and tries to create an artwork, but everything from the passing insects to humans to oompah bands to critics to Godzilla keep coming past and interrupting him. Surely this isn’t conducive to making a good artwork?

And no, it isn’t, as the end reveal shows. I think we’re supposed to say that it is a success and that this Van Dog can live off the exuberant and bonkers and absurdist. But I didn’t – the exuberant and bonkers and absurdist here just meant this was nowhere near the art lesson I thought it might be, and rather pointless all in all.