 Our
Abe Lincoln
by Jim Aylesworth
Ages 4–8
The simple text of this biography
is adapted by a popular song during Lincoln’s presidential
campaigns, and can be sung to the tune of “The
Old Grey Mare.” The charming and detailed illustrations
will enchant children as they sing along. |
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 Chasing
Vermeer
by Blue Balliett
Ages 9–12
Petra and Calder, two bright
sixth-graders, join together to find a missing Vermeer
painting. This mystery sends them on a quest full of
patterns, puzzles, as they investigate the meaning of
art. (1st in series) |
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 The
Wright 3
by Blue Balliett
Ages 9–12
Sixth-graders Petra and Calder
are joined by Tommy in this architectural mystery as
they try to prevent the destruction that threatens Frank
Lloyd Wright’s Robie House. (2nd in series) |
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 The
Calder Game
by Blue Balliett
Ages 9–12
Now in 7th grade, series heroes
Petra, Tommy, and Calder participate in the Calder Game,
trying to join five ideas or things that move in relationship
to each other. This provocative mix of mystery, art concepts,
and philosophy will appeal to motivated readers. (3rd
in series) |
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 Masterpiece
by Elise Broach, Kelly Murphy
Ages 8–12
Two very different families share a
Manhattan apartment. Marvin the beetle follows his family’s
rules about staying hidden from the humans, though he worries
that the human family does not appreciate their 11-year-old
son James. Tempted by the pen and ink set James receives for
his birthday, Martin draws an intricate picture for James and
then reveals himself as the artist. Before James can hide the
drawing, his parents have discovered it and proclaim him a
talented artist. Soon a museum curator is asking James to forge
a Dürer miniature to catch a thief. The fast moving story
and wonderfully detailed drawings will captivate young readers. |
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 Ashley
Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song
by Ashley Bryan
All Ages
This powerful autobiography
tells a story of a creative life. Illustrations and
memories show a boy finding art materials during the
Depression, storing art supplies in his gas mask during
WWII, losing an art scholarship because of his race,
and an award-winning art career. A book for parents
and children to enjoy together, this book will inspire
artists of all ages. |
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 Yellow
Square:
A
Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages
by David A. Carter
Ages 3–up
A yellow square hides in plain
sight, or within the paper engineering on each page,
encouraging readers of all ages to explore the modern
art inspired pages. |
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 The
Big Book for Little Hands
by Marie-Pascale Cocagne
Ages 3–6
This engaging activity book reinforces
educational concepts as young artists color and complete
the illustrations. |
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 A
Nest for Celeste
A
Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home
by Henry Cole
Ages 8–12
Celeste, a quiet mouse who weaves
baskets from grass, forages for food in Oakley Plantation
near New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1821. Tormented by rats
and chased by a cat, she is rescued by Joseph, the young
assistant to John James Audubon. Joseph carries Celeste
in his pocket as he helps Audubon find plants and birds
to serve as models for their illustrations. Beautifully
natural pencil drawings capture Celeste’s bravery, resourcefulness,
and overwhelming need for a home to call her own. A compelling
mix of fantasy and fact, this book full of art captures
the nature of art and artists. Audubon’s time-appropriate
habit of hiring hunters to shoot the birds he paints may
be unsettling for modern readers. |
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 Cool
Daddy Rat
by Kristyn Crow
Ages 3–up
Bass player Cool Daddy Rat heads
out to perfrom in the big city and his son Ace comes
along in this tribute to jazz. Scat lines are delicious
to read aloud. |
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 The
Girl Who Wanted to Dance
by Amy Ehrlich
Ages 6–10
Clara, who longs to dance,
lives with her sad father and loving grandmother who
tells her that her absent mother also loved music and
dance. When a traveling dance troupe visits the village,
Clara’s father recognizes Clara’s mother, and forgives
her for leaving the family. This haunting fairy tale
compassionately addresses the irresistible artistic
urge and the pain of those left behind.
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 Color
Magic Sticker Play Book
by Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ages 4–8
More than 2000 red, blue, and
yellow translucent stickers in various geometric shapes
encourage children to experiment with color and the shapes
that make up the world around us. The reusable stickers
easily peel away from the laminated pages, making it
simple to create new masterpieces. |
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 Duck!
Rabbit!
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Tom Lichtenheld
Ages 3–8
This clever book uses a simple
version of the classic optical illusion that can look
like either a duck or a rabbit, depending on your perspective.
As the background details change, snappy dialog, that
begs to be read, aloud argues for both creatures, encouraging
young readers to also take sides. |
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 Gallop!
by Rufus Butler Seder
Ages 4–8
Inventor, artist, and filmmaker Seder
has created Scanimation, a new animation technique. A hidden
tab in each page slides an acetate layer over an animal image,
creating the illusion of motion reminicent of Eadweard Muybridge’s
motion photography. Rhyming text accompanies each animated
image on this fascinating picture book. |
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 Swing!
by Rufus Butler Seder
Ages 4–8
Seder’s amazing Scanimation technology
animates various activities: hitting a baseball, riding a bike,
spinning on the ice. Rhyming text captures in words the energy
of the moving images. |
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 The
Composer Is Dead
by Lemony Snicket, Carson Ellis
Ages 5–up
This introduction to the instruments
of the orchestra is cloaked in a murder investigation. When
the composer is found dead (“This is called decomposing.”),
the Inspector begins interrogating the sections of the orchestra.
The accompanying CD features Snicket (Daniel Handler) narrating
the performance with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra of
Nathaniel Stookey’s original score. A national tour begins
March 7, 2009, in New York City. |
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 All
God’s Critters
by Bill Staines, Kadir Nelson
Ages 5–8
Kadir Nelson’s playful illustrations
enliven this energetic spiritual. The song’s message
of tolerance encourages everyone to sing along—and
everyone can thanks to the sheet music included at
the end of the book. |
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 Somebody
Everybody Listens To
by Suzanne Supplee
Ages 12–up
Encouraged by her best friend
and biggest fan, recent high school graduate Retta Lee
Jones sets off to Nashville to make her name in country
music. Living in the car she borrowed from her grandmother,
Retta tries to make her hard-earned waitressing money
last as long as possible as she searches for a way to
break into the completive music scene. Biographical notes
about other music stars who overcame great odds to become
successful introduce each chapter, giving Retta (and
readers) hope that dreams can come true. |
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 Paris
in the Spring with Picasso
by Joan Yolleck, Marjorie Priceman
Ages 4–8
It’s spring in Paris and Gertrude
Stein and Alice B. Toklas prepare for an evening party
for their friends Pablo Picasso, Max Jacob, Apollinaire,
and others. Marjorie Priceman’s exuberant illustrations
beautifully complement the text presenting a normal
day in the lives of creative people as Picasso paints,
Stein reads, and Jacob writes a poem. |
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