From Publishers Weekly
This innovative picture book/chapter book hybrid vividly brings to life the childhood of noted American painter Benjamin West (1738-1820). The youngest of 10 children in a Quaker family, Benjamin becomes inspired at the age of seven and draws pictures every chance he gets. When quill and paper aren't enough, a Native American friend shows young Benjamin how to mix clay and bear grease into paint colors, and Benjamin learns-by trial and error, using hair from his pet cat-how to make simple paintbrushes. Brenner (If You Were There in 1776) distills West's formative years into a lively narrative. She makes Benjamin easy to like, giving equal emphasis to his singular passion for art and to the qualities he has in common with readers (e.g., a knack for getting into trouble, then fearing the consequences). Dunrea's (The Painter Who Loved Chickens) gouache compositions capture the sparse simplicity of colonial-era Pennsylvania. Pared-down, favoring the grays and muted colors associated with traditional Quaker furnishings, these pictures pay their respects to the art of the period but retain warmth and a childlike puckishness; the horizontal format, approximately 10" x 7", accentuates Dunrea's painterly style. An author's note chronicling West's career and featuring reproductions of several works is included. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-This simply told picture-book biography introduces the story of Benjamin West, who is often referred to as the father of American art. Born in 1738, the 10th child of the Pennsylvania Wests, he began drawing at a very young age. He learned about color from local Indians, and he learned about "hair pencils" (paintbrushes) from a traveler. Since he couldn't obtain any of his own, he made them with hairs from the family cat, Grimalkin. Realizing their son's potential, Benjamin's parents sent him to Philadelphia to study with a real artist. The trip changed his life. Dunrea's folk-style gouache paintings incorporate period architecture, furnishings, and handicrafts. The pictures are framed with thin black lines, giving the book a formal appearance. This is a fine introduction to artists and the Colonial period.
Kathleen Staerkel, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Kathleen Staerkel, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
