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    Mini Review: National Menagerie of Art is kid approved

    0
    By Jessica on July 6, 2022 ages 5 & up, picture books
    THE NATIONAL MENAGERIE OF ART: MASTERPIECES FROM VINCENT VAN GOAT TO LIONHARDO DA STINKI, by Thaïs Vanderheyden, Prestel Junior, May 3, 2022, Hardcover, $12.95 (ages 5-9)

    Introduce your young reader to art through reimagined masterpieces in The National Menagerie of Art, by Thaïs Vanderheyden.

    Even the greatest works of art will often fail to enthrall young children. But insert a funny, loveable animal into the scene, and it’s a whole different story. This picture book takes artistic license as it reimagines the world’s most famous paintings for a young audience. A teddy bear surfs Hokusai’s Great Wave of Kanagawa; a charming pig changes Mona Lisa’s smile from cryptic to comic; Munch’s scream is far less angsty on a panda’s face, while Whistler’s mother–the elephant–gives new meaning to Arrangement in Grey and Black.

    While it covers every major artistic school in art history, from Michelangelo and Velázquez to Kahlo and Rothko, each snort and guffaw offers an opportunity to explore the paintings in ways that will help kids remember them for the rest of their lives. —Synopsis provided by Prestel

    While far from the first book on masterpieces that my 8-year-old has perused, The National Menagerie of Art sill commanded attention. These silly interpretations are accompanied by a gallery featuring the original works of art along with some facts about each painting, allowing young readers to compare and learn while having fun. My daughter has picked this book up more than once, earning it a thumbs up. As a bonus, it’s also inspired her to try her own hand at creating masterpieces.

     

    Copyright © 2022 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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