Summary

A dazzling introduction to the world of art for children, the Oxford First Book of Art boasts a rich collection of images--paintings, drawings, sculptures, and textiles--from around the world and through the ages. Gillian Wolfe uses simple, vivid language to encourage young readers to examine the art and ask questions about its contents and origin. The pictures are grouped by themes, starting with more accessible subjects--"Mother and Child" and "Faces"--and moving on to such abstract concepts as "Light," "Patterns," and "Shapes." Superb, full-color reproductions of art by traditional artists--like Mary Cassatt's "The Bath" and William Turner's "The Fighting Temeraire"--alternate with works from modern art's foremost representatives, including Picasso, Leger, Klee, and Giacometti. The selections range from French and American and to Indian and Maori paintings and sculptures. Wolfe sprinkles numerous quizzes and games among the more serious themes to provide gentle, entertaining guidance to artistically-inclined children.