Literature in Art Books

I am a curriculum project manager at Houston ISD. I have been researching material for a Story-teller program we are starting this summer and... this is the best!

As a classroom storyteller, I have found this teacher's guide and collection of tellable stories to be extremely useful, clear, and reliable. The experience and common sense of the authors provide teachers with a valuable resource for storytelling. You will use this book again and again.

If I were forced to choose only one resource to help me as I teach kids how to go about choosing, learning and telling a story, this would be it. The authors have extensive experience helping thousands of children to tell stories through their school residencies. Many ideas and activities are spelled out to help teachers or coaches prepare students for the often scary task of getting in front of the audience and telling a tale. A variety of methods for story-learning are detailed, allowing for the variety of learning styles encountered in a classroom. Many ideas for ways to use storytelling in school, from a school festival to an inter-generational fair, are suggested.

Especially enjoyable are the many real-life story maps, quotes and photos of kids involved in this rewarding activity. An anthology of twenty-five stories for kids to tell is included to get your student tellers started.

We do not give kids enough opportunities to get up in front of a group and share something they love. Storytelling bridges so many of these gaps, and even the shyest kids often discover a new-found love when given the chance to tell a story. If you are at all considering having kids tell stories, get this book. It will convince you that you are making the right choice, and give you the tools to carry out your ideas.

(Gwyn is a professional storyteller who has coached many middle school students in the telling of their first story).

Carol Chillington Rutter is supreme when it comes to talking clearly and intelligently about the Renaissance, its champion women, its theatre and performance, and stagings of Renaissance plays in more recent times. This book is an invaluable part of Ms Chillington Rutter's impressive and growing bibliography. Witty, perceptive and extremely informative, it is an absolute must for anyone interested in performance, women's roles in male-directed productions, and the theatrical process from first days of rehearsals to final performances.

An edited transcript of interview and round-table discussions amongst five of the best female actors to grace the modern British stage, this book is a wealth of fascinating material not only on female roles in Shakespeare, but also public, directorial, and historical/traditional perceptions of those roles, and of the place of women in Shakespearean productions in particular. Standouts include Harriet Walter's compare'n'contrast of Helena from ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL with Imogen in CYMBELINE; Juliet Stevenson and Fiona Shaw's discussion of the Rosalind/Celia relationship in AS YOU LIKE IT; and Paola Dionisetti and Sinead Cusack comparing two different Kates from two different productions of TAMING OF THE SHREW. Great companion volume to go with the PLAYERS OF SHAKESPEARE series of books.

Five of Britain's best women actors (including Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson and Sinead Cusack) offer insights into their portrayals of some of Shakespeare's greatest roles. Lady Macbeth, Isabella (Measure for Measure), Kate (Taming of the shrew) and Rosalind (As you like it) are some of the roles discussed. Comparisons of different productions, directors and leading men are highlights of this wonderful collection of anecdotes, insights and lively discussion of Shakespeare and theatre today.

This book is for anyone who craves a deeper
comprehension of Morrison's seminal work. In
fact, it's indispensable for the "active" reader or
student who wants to observe how Morrison has seamlessly
interwoven myth and folklore into a complex
tapestry which reflects the afro-american experience
in America. CROSSING BORDERS deftly unravels each thread
for the reader, but paradoxically and exquistely leaves the
tapestry in tact. Kudos to Dr. Brown!

In "Crossing Borders" Dr. Billinglsea-Brown gives the reader an in-depth analysis of the components that surround borderlines. Anyone who reads this book will become enraptured with Dr. Billinglsea-Brown use of language to convey the ideas that surround a complex identity such as the African American woman. Her book is reflective of historical, cultural, and social movements. Through this book I have gained the knowledge to come to a point where I can understand part of the meaning and significance of folklore and its connection to the Afrcian American literary tradition. I enjoyed this book not only for its light language but the author's ability to weave the reader into the world of Morrison, Satyr, and other African American women writers that influenced our history and cultural outlook.

Folklore--"the boiled down juice of human living," as the writer Zora Neale Hurston defined it--has always been employed by displaced African people to reaffirm their identity within the dominant culture. In the 1960s, when the separation of the black and white worlds was challenged, black artists began to use folklore as a means of "crossing the borders" that maginalized African Americans. By embracing folk idioms (legends and tales, quilts and dolls, and even archetypes and steretypes like Aunt Jemima and Sambo), these artists, who were frequently women, devised a new aesthetic that reclaimed and redefined their multiple identities. In this study, Alma Jean Billingslea-Brown, an associate professor of English at Spelman College, takes a close look at how four African American female artists--writers Toni Morrison and Paule Marshall and visual artists Faith Ringgold and Betye Saar--have mined folklore for the evocative images that have enabled their work to transgress social, cultural, and political borders from the 1960s until today.

My 2 year old is a huge fan of police and firefighters, but he especially loves motorcycle police. It is very hard to find any toys or books with motorcycle cops. I ordered this book hoping it would have at least a picture of one, and I wasn't disappointed! It briefly tells about and includes pictures for different kinds of police, including police on motorcycles, bikes and horses. The rest of the book is good, too. If you have a kid that's into police, this book would be a great addition to your collection!

Joey's Aunt Ann is a police officer and through her nephew's eyes the reader learns about a police officer's day, tools of the trade and all the different kinds of police officers there are. We even meet Joey's favorite police dog!

During Aunt Ann's day, she rescues a lost boy and even catches a bear who escaped from the zoo! The photographs are excellent, and the review of terminology with a picture dictionary is proof of the careful preparation that went into this volume.

I am an officer, and was thrilled to find a book featuring a female police officer. In one week it became my niece's favorite book, having me read it over and over to her. She recognized the pictures highlighting special words, and even recognizes the same things in real life. I thought her mom would scream when my niece's favorite word became "badge", and she pointed out every emergency vehicle she saw out on the roads when they went for drives. This book helped my niece become much more verbal, and helps show her that female officers are positive role models, just like me.

This beautifully illustrated, richly colorful book spans the breadth of science, giving the reader context so he or she can dive into areas of personal interest. This is a fun read with playful, provocative writing that reveals the science underlying our choices in life:

"Science can help you answer those questions about your personal decisions. We also think that science can help you make the best decisions for your local community, your country, and for the planet."

This is the thesis that grabbed me. Although I find science intrinsically fascinating, I am deeply concerned that our civilization is ignorantly wielding its immense powers of science and technology. This book invites us to think critically.

Those versed in science will probably learn something out of their area of expertise. They will surely learn how to more engagingly explain that with which they are already familiar. Those fresh to science could ask for no more pleasant or exciting a guide.

I am the Director of Education for the Foresight Nanotech Institute and the author of Technology Challenged: Understanding Our Creations & Choosing Our Future

Science books have a history of being droll, filled with amorphous and incomprehensible graphs, facts and statistics. At long last, here is a book both parents and kids can learn from and enjoy studying, perusing, or just laughing with page by page. If school districts would adopt this book, they would see student comprehension and involvement jump off the page. Or perhaps this should be de rigeur summer reading for middle schoolers. Though I am well past that stage, I learned a lot about science and systems and wish I had a book like this when I was 13 or 14. Maybe science and math educators could take a gander at this book and rethink ways to reach students better. This book is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise polluted science learning atmosphere.

I'm a middle school student. I like science, but don't get enough of it in school. I really like Dr. Art's Guide to Science because it is fun. He uses dancers at a party to explain the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. When the professional wrestlers come in, it shows the differences between physical changes and chemical changes.

Dr. Art even puts a few Just Kidding things in each chapter, like Galileo finding out about the telescope by reading about it on the Internet. This makes you think about what you are reading. It's a creative and different book, and I think even people who have not liked science will like it a lot.

This was the most useful book for learning to draw birds that I have found to date. It was easy to follow, the drawings were accurate without being overly ornate, and the diversity of birds was perfect. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn to draw, and especially for those who want to draw birds.

My child loves to draw, even though admittedly is not yet very good at it. This book has shown the way to better drawing skills in a step-by-step way. There is nothing "cartoon-ish" about the drawings, as they are realistic portayals, which is what my child is striving for. Not too difficult though, for a younger child either. My 8-year-old absolutely loves all the books in this series. They don't involve much reading at all. Each pictures shows many steps from beginning to end, not just a few.

good book. when Lee J. Ames draws with someone else it is a bit harder. still easy and fun.

This is a good reference book for any artist wanting to draw jungle animals as well as a good book for children.

Simple, step by step instructions anyone could use to learn to draw animals. One in a series of books. My 8 year old loves to draw using this book's instructions, and is very pleased with the results of his pictures!
I highly recommend it!

My students love this book. The step by step instructions on how to draw rainforest animals help with projects and report illustrations. It is a great gift for any child who loves to draw.

MY SON RECEIVED SEVERAL OF THESE BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS. HE LOVES THE BOOKS. AS AN ART STUDENT IN SCHOOL, HE IS REQUIRED TO TURN IN ONE SKETCH FROM HOME EACH WEEK. THE BOOKS GIVE HIM SO MANY IDEAS. WE ARE VERY PLEASED

I teach art in a middle school. When students have finished their assignments early, they may choose one of the how to draw books in my classroom. This book is always chosen first for those that like to draw fantasy pictures. I like to see their excitement after they try one of the pictures. I recommend this book for the 12-14 year old age group, because it is the most requested how to draw book in my classroom.

When I began to read this book I couldn't draw dragons for my life. Now I am the best dragon drawer in the class. It was really helpfull to me, and will be to you to!

My son loves everything about the sea and the animals that inhabit it and he really enjoys this book. He has become very good at drawing these undersea creatures. He needed no help from me, the visual instructions were enough for him to jump right in and draw beautifully.

My 7 year old daughter chose this book at her school book fair. She loves to draw, and with the step by step instructions in this book, her ocean creatures are great. People are always amazed at the drawings. We have tried other drawing books, without success. This book gets an A+. 10 year old big sister and her friends enjoy the book also. They are studying animals in 5th grade, and have a project to do on the different types. Each report must include a drawing of the animal they write about. This book has helped greatly with the fish. A fifth grade teacher was so impressed she asked me if I would order her this book and 4 other Draw titles by Peel Books. Thanks, from a very satisfied mom.

My mother purchased this book for my son for Christmas 2 years ago. He has this fascination with the ocean and loves to draw! We had a blast with this book!

The pictures are VERY easy to do, and the direction....if you notice even down the to pressure of the pencil....this book is awesome!

For my son - who is 9 - and me, who has taken many classes, this simplifies it.

Julio T. Leitao founded an African dance troupe for children, and Patricia A. Keeler observed African dancers for weeks; together they wrote Drumbeat in our Feet, a picturebook meant to convey the richness of African dance culture to young readers. Drumbeat in our Feet is not a storybook per se, but rather an informational survey of the history of African dance tradition. From costumes and body painting associated with dance, to dances that honor spirits and ancestors, to types of musical instruments used, call-and-response songs, and much more, Drumbeat in our Feet surveys all aspects of African dance. Keeler's exuberant color illustrations bring to life the excitement of African dance in this wonderful, informative, and highly recommended picturebook.

An infectious energy fills the pages of this book from cover to cover. Even the endpapers make me want to get up and dance around the room! Ms. Keeler and Mr. Leitao have created a fun and fascinating book on African Dance, beautifully written and so visually energetic that you can feel the drumbeats on each page. Sepia-toned African scenes blend into colorful urban settings, building to a grand finale final spread, brilliant with color and movement. "Once you learn how to do African dance," says one young dancer, "you'll never stop dancing!" What a nice thought to end this book... I, for one, am convinced!

Jump up and dance with this powerful book about children's African dance! In Keeler's magical African world, children leap and spin across the pages representing wind, water, and fire! Their arms spreading and backbones curving, dancers represent elephants, monkeys and antelopes!

Did you know each white dot on a child's arm stands for a dancer that came before her? And the zig-zag design painted on the children's bellies represents crocodile teeth? Many African secrets are revealed!

Feel the rhythm, African rhythm. Feel the beat, African beat! Don't miss this one!"