Drea is a mom who blogs about homeschooling, food and other things important to life (like books and riddles). When she finds cool products she points her followers toward them and I’m delighted that she pointed toward Seeking Cézanne. Thanks, Drea!
Category: Books for Kids that make Art more Fun /
Book Thrills
Alix blogs about books at thebookishalix, mainly thrillers. I’m thrilled that she just reviewed Seeking Cézanne. Thank you!
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Painters, Chefs, and You
Chefs combine flavors. Painters combine paints. In both occupations, artists make magic out of everyday ingredients.
Educators have documented the benefits of reading to and with your child, including closer bonding, increased cognitive and language skills, better attention span, and much more. Reading and cooking with your child may add extra benefit.
If you’ll excuse my attempt at being a “book sommelier,” here are recommended pairings of cookbooks for my children’s stories about artists.
Enjoy!
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Thank you, Leslie
Leslie Clingan is a mom and former librarian who reviews books on her blog onceuponatimehappilyeverafter. I’m fortunate she chose to review Seeking Cézanne.
#seekingcezanne #bookstagram #mybookfeatures #childrensbookwriter #childrensbookblogger #booksforkids #booklover #kidsbookshelf
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Thanks, Joanna
Joannasbookshelf is a great source for book recommendations. Everything from 400-calorie cookbooks through psychological suspense to my new children’s book.
If you love books, joannasbookshelf is well worth a follow. I do.
#seekingcezanne #bookstagram #mybookfeatures #childrensbookwriter #childrensbookblogger #booksforkids #booklover #kidsbookshelf
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Enter The Book Giveaway
Owls Cove Press is giving away six signed first editions of Seeking Cézanne: A Children’s Mystery Inspired by Paul Cézanne and Other Artists.
The giveaway is hosted at Goodreads.com and ends on December 4, 2021.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Goodreads giveaways are very straightforward. One signs in to Goodreads and enters the contest. At the close, Goodreads randomly chooses six of the people who entered and copies are mailed to the six winners. The only requirement is that people who enter agree to list the book as “want to read” on their Goodreads page. They do not have to buy the book or pay anything.
Seeking Cézanne: A Children’s Mystery Inspired by Paul Cézanne and Other Artists is an adventure story about a brother and sister lost in a world of paintings and trying to get home. Grades 2 to 4, but anyone who appreciates beautiful art will love it.
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Cézanne is coming
Happy to announce that I have a new children’s book in production and it will be available very soon.
Seeking Cézanne: A Children’s Mystery Inspired by Paul Cézanne and Other Artists.
When Jamie and her brother Billy are trapped inside a painting, they want nothing more than to get back to the real museum. But every time they try going back, the museum disappears. They need to find Paul Cézanne to reveal the trick to getting home–and that’s not easy. To find him, they need to learn how to experience and appreciate artistic works. Grades 2 to 4.
Here’s what the cover will look like.
Stay tuned for more info!
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Three Views of Van Gogh for Children
Three new picture books give complementary views of the artist’s life.
Authors use the same facts differently. That is as true for picture books as it is for books geared to older ages. When you show children a set of books with different perspectives on the same subject, it helps them develop the capacity to think analytically. Doing this with picture books is a great way for younger kids to have fun while learning how to understand and master their world.
Here are three picture books that, together, help children think about the life of painter Vincent van Gogh.
Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary GrandPré is a biography of the painter told from the hook of children fighting sleep. It looks at van Gogh as a struggling artist driven to express himself and paint the night sky. Ages 4 to 8.
The Artist and Me by Shane Peacock and illustrated by Sophie Casson uses van Gogh’s time in Arles, France to teach about bullying. It looks at van Gogh as a visionary, bullied for being both poor and different. The story is told by one of the bullies as an adult looking back at what he did and what he learned. Ages 5 to 9.
Vincent, Theo and the Fox by Ted Macaluso (yes, that’s me) uses van Gogh’s life to teach about growing up and brotherhood. It looks at van Gogh, and his brother Theo, as two young boys who wonder what they should be when they grow up. Chasing a mischievous fox through van Gogh’s paintings they discover the answer to how to be the best you can be when you grow up. Ages 4 to 10.
One artist and three viewpoints. All three perspectives are true, which is the beauty of reading these three books together.
All three books have great reviews.
Kirkus Reviews called Vincent Can’t Sleep “a soft, sad, lovely introduction to a masterpiece.” Booklist said it is “a beautiful exploration of van Gogh’s influences and achievement.”
The School Library Journal’s assessment of The Artist and Me is that the book presents “…a troubling issue observed through the lens of art history [and] delivers a meaningful message about individuality and tolerance.”
Kirkus Reviews called Vincent, Theo and the Fox “a charming, unique way to introduce youngsters to great art while providing an important message.” ThePictureBookReview.com said: “[Vincent, Theo and the Fox] is the first book I’ve read where the illustrations are storied instead of the story being illustrated….It adds a depth of imagination that I’m not used to in picture books. I can’t think of any other picture book doing this–it’s wonderful!”
Reading all three books can be a powerful experience. Together, they reinforce the reality that Vincent van Gogh was, like each and every one of us is, a complex, many-sided person.
Ted Macaluso lives in Reston, Virginia and blogs about children’s books and art at www.tedmacaluso.com.
Text © 2019 by Ted Macaluso.
Note: Some of the links above are “affiliate links” to Amazon.com, which means that Amazon pays me a few pennies if you end up buying the book through the link here. Your price is the same whether you use the affiliate link or find the book another way. The pennies don’t influence my judgment. These are all books I’ve read and recommend. You’re free to click, look on Amazon, and not buy.
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Now out in hardback.
Available online now. Coming to bookstores in May.
Ted Macaluso - Author 