Famous Artists in History: An Art History Book for Kids (Biographies for Kids) Paperback – February 22, 2022

I am so excited to use this book for our Famous Artists class at our homeschool co-op. It is written at just the right level for it to be accessible to the students. I love the diversity of the artists featured and the short biographies that go along with it. There are also some activity ideas and discussion questions at the end of each chapter. While it doesn't have photos of the art, it isn't a problem, I plan to use the projector to show pictures of the artist's work anyway.

This is the nonfiction book about art history your kids have been looking for! Forget the "old, dead white guy" tradition--Kelly Milner Halls successfully highlights 15 famous artists who look and live as diversely as their very artwork. Art comes from all corners, and Milner Halls shares her trademark curious glimpses into the backgrounds and careers of artists from as far back as Michelangelo and as contemporary as Njideka Akunyili Crosby. Consider this book a springboard. Children will use the resources included to continue their exploration of the artwork discussed in the book. Note: This book contains references to mental health issues in a respectful, gentle way, and that is yet another reason to buy it. I recommend this book highly for classroom libraries, libraries, home libraries, and simply to tuck in the backpack of your favorite artist!

If you are interested in art or know a young person who is, this is a great book. It introduces artists in an easy to understand format. While it's written for youth, I learned a lot that I didn't know and made me want to find out more about their creations.

I learned a lot about different artists from this book. It covers such a wide variety of art types, time periods, ethnic identities, and cultures that children can see themselves in someone in the book. And they can be inspired that they, too, could be an artist.The book also defines art vocabulary and includes references for further study and possible art projects for children to try. Bios are written in a way that captures the reader's interest. This book would make a good addition to any classroom or homeschooling family's library.The only reason I deducted one point is that I wish there could have been examples shown of each artist's work. This was likely not possible due to copyright or cost issues, but I would have loved to see what their art actually looked like. Still, I highly recommend the book.I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts are mine alone.

Learning about art usually requires a trip to the museum, but this nonfiction book by author Kelly Milner Halls will take readers on an art adventure as each page turns. Beginning with the birth of Michelangelo in 1475 through the years to 1983 and artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby, FAMOUS ARTISTS IN HISTORY introduces well-known artists and a number of less well-known talents to young readers interested in painters, sculptors, and photographers.Readers will learn about artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, Kahlo, and Warhol. The four-five page bios reveal each artist's early life, development in their chosen medium, and the works that made them famous. Included are other artists like Utagawa Hiroshige and his wood block prints that made art affordable for the common man and photographers like Julia Margaret Cameron and Gordon Parks who both broke artistic barriers of their times.Pioneers in graffiti art like Jean-Michel Basquiat and mixed media collages like Njideka Akunyili Crosby are introduced. Readers will find out that Yayoi Kusama of Japan was inspired by her own mental illness struggles brought to life on canvas.As usual Kelly Milner Halls writing is well-researched. Included at the end of each piece are suggestions of where to learn more and also further tidbits about each artist. A glossary at the end of the book highlights selected words from throughout the book. FAMOUS ARTISTS IN HISTORY is perfect for classrooms and libraries wherever young readers interested in art might be.

The fifteen artists profiled by Kelly Milner Halls in FAMOUS ARTISTS IN HISTORY will lead young readers to broaden their understanding of what art is and can be, how artists think, and what artists do, especially those considered to be great. Spanning continents, cultures, and centuries, Milner Halls has chosen a diverse collection of painters, photographers, sculptors, and multi-media artists. While it may seem inherently problematic that a book about artists does not show any of their works, Milner Halls’s evocative writing will entice readers to investigate the visual dimensions of the works described, and the book provides resources to do exactly that. For example, I was led to a deep dive into the work of Yayoi Kusama that may well affect my dreams. Colorful, appealing illustrations by Brtitish artist Amy Blackwell accompany each artist profile.

This is a special book. It makes the artists portrayed accessible to young people. In a completely age-appropriate way, it shows the artists‘ motivations, struggles, successes, failures, and, most of all, their humanity.The author’s insight into the culture in which the 15 artists lived and how their art reflected their experiences makes viewing and understanding their art that much more impactful. What I think is most profound, is that Ms. Halls writes in such as way as to help young people know that art is subjective and that they should not be afraid to express themselves artistically even if what they create may be different from the norm.At its heart, this is a book about the beauty and the struggles of humanity and how we express our feelings with creation. It was a pleasure to read and made me want to learn more. I highly recommend this beautifully-written book.The publisher has asked that I mention that I was provided an advance copy of this book. That fact in no way has influenced my review. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Many times during my reading, I literally caught my breath with the revelations it gave me over art that I thought I already understood.