Employing the same clever contrivance she used in I Spy: An Alphabet in Art , Micklethwait combines a favorite children's game with a pleasurable exercise in art appreciation. On each left-hand page of this handsome book, a number appears, written both as a word and in extra large numerals. Along with it is the name of an object--1 fly, 2 eyes, 17 birds, and so on--to be spotted, then counted, in a reproduction of a fine painting found on the opposite page. Micklethwait has taken great care not only to find pictures that will challenge children (it's no snap to find 12 squirrels in Abu'l Hasan's "Squirrels in a Plane Tree" or 15 hands and feet in Fernand L{‚}eger's "Divers on a Yellow Background"), but also to represent a wide range of art styles and subjects. Although the pictures are too small to be used in a classroom exercise, they are beautifully reproduced and set against a glossy white background that ensures they'll stand out clearly during lap sharing. Each picture is identified by artist and title as it appears, and sources are appended. A pleasurable way to help young children begin to feel comfortable with fine art. |