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4th out of 78 books
—
131 voters
Art & Max
Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max’s first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he’s courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
October 4th 2010
by Clarion Books
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I absolutely loved reading Art & Max by David Wiesner because of the beautiful and colorful illustrations throughout the story. The plot is simple enough: two lizard friends, Arthur and Max, are standing in their desert habitat and trying to paint. Arthur is annoyed with Max because Max doesn't seem to be a "real" painter like he is. Max is just excited to be given the opportunity to paint with his friend "Art." When Max tries to paint Arthur, however, comedy ensues.
I feel that students wou...more
I feel that students wou...more
Dec 05, 2012
Ed
added it
Wiesner, David. (2010). Art & Max. Illustrated by the author. Boston: Houghton Mifflin/Clarion. 32 pp. ISBN 978-0-618-75663-6. (Hardcover) $17.99.
David Wiesner’s picture books are treasures! I teach first grade, but I have always dreamed of working with high school students using Flotsam. I would love to have high school students write two polar opposite texts about what is happening in this book. Art & Max is another book in which older students will find much to appreciate, especially...more
David Wiesner’s picture books are treasures! I teach first grade, but I have always dreamed of working with high school students using Flotsam. I would love to have high school students write two polar opposite texts about what is happening in this book. Art & Max is another book in which older students will find much to appreciate, especially...more
This review is one of my additional picture books for RLS 520
Art & Max written and illustrated by David Wiesner
This book is also a Monarch Award Nominee for 2013. I’m going to come right out and say it about this book: I don’t really like it. Now, let me explain why. The idea is quite simple and one that kids will love. Two friends Art(hur) and Max (both lizards) are standing in front of a canvas. Max insists that he can paint, just as well as Arthur, much to Arthur’s chagrin. The story goes...more
Art & Max written and illustrated by David Wiesner
This book is also a Monarch Award Nominee for 2013. I’m going to come right out and say it about this book: I don’t really like it. Now, let me explain why. The idea is quite simple and one that kids will love. Two friends Art(hur) and Max (both lizards) are standing in front of a canvas. Max insists that he can paint, just as well as Arthur, much to Arthur’s chagrin. The story goes...more
Art and Max are two best friend iguanas that have one thing in common: They love to paint! Now, the only difference is that Art is an excellent painter who takes life very seriously, and Max is a small less serious painter who always seems to get in Art's way.
As the story begins, Art had been working on his most recent piece when Max barged in his way asking what he should paint. Art seemly already bothered by his presence, quickly suggest "paint ME" without remembering how literal his friend w...more
As the story begins, Art had been working on his most recent piece when Max barged in his way asking what he should paint. Art seemly already bothered by his presence, quickly suggest "paint ME" without remembering how literal his friend w...more
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The brilliant book, Art & Max by David Wiesner, has two distinct characters. Max is high energy and loveable in an annoying way. He flies across a double-page spread running over two assistants and knocking Art’s paint brush out of his hand. Max is so excited to see Art paint he’s a bit reckless in his enthusiasm. Art is the expert who has three assistants and is a bit of a snob. Art is annoyed with Max in the beginning but changes at the end when Max opens his eyes to new possibilities in c...more
Art & Max is another wonderful picture book from David Wiesner. Max is a fumbling little lizard who sees his friend Arthur painting and wants to paint, too. When he asks Arthur what he should paint, Arthur suggests that Max paint him, as in paint his portrait. But, Max misinterprets and starts painting on Art, making Art into art! Arthur gets so angry at Max's antics that his outer shell explodes, revealing that his very skin has been dyed the colors of Max's paint! Max's attempts to "righ...more
I would definitely give one and a half stars to this book.
As always, the artistic skills of author/illustrator David Wiesner shine in extraordinary fashion. While I don't have a lot of technical knowledge about painting or the proper processes by which artistic form is created, it's still pretty clear to me that David Wiesner routinely tries to things that have never been attempted in the history of modern picture books. It's a credit to his ability as an artist that the pictures he makes coul...more
As always, the artistic skills of author/illustrator David Wiesner shine in extraordinary fashion. While I don't have a lot of technical knowledge about painting or the proper processes by which artistic form is created, it's still pretty clear to me that David Wiesner routinely tries to things that have never been attempted in the history of modern picture books. It's a credit to his ability as an artist that the pictures he makes coul...more
Jan 18, 2011
Karin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
picture-books,
juvenile-fiction,
art,
artists,
playful,
lizards,
creativity,
clever,
borrowed-from-the-library
Art is an artistic Lizard. Max is his overly enthusiastic friend (also a lizard). When Max sees Art painting a portrait of some of their friends, he wants to get involved, too. So they set up an easel and a canvas for him, but then Max can’t think of what to paint. Art suggests, “Paint me!” So Max does. Literally. In all the colors of the rainbow. With really bizarre consequences. Art gets so mad that he busts out of his scaly hide, but his rainbow coloring remains until Max offers him some wate...more
Jan 12, 2011
Sarah
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
preschool
Recommended to Sarah by:
mock caudill list
Shelves:
picture-book
I didn't particularly like this story. The drawings were pretty neat (I like the picture of Max in front of the cactus) but the story was sort of stupid. I felt like the author came up with the picture idea first and then tried to write a story around it.
Art is a big lizard and Max is a small lizard. They're both in the desert, and Art(hur)is painting on a canvas. Max sees this and wants to paint too. Not knowing what to paint, he begins painting Arthur. When Arthur shakes the paint off, he los...more
Art is a big lizard and Max is a small lizard. They're both in the desert, and Art(hur)is painting on a canvas. Max sees this and wants to paint too. Not knowing what to paint, he begins painting Arthur. When Arthur shakes the paint off, he los...more
Beautiful work by David Wiesner, as always. I love his thoughtful color work (the shadows are especially interesting) and the playful expressiveness of his characters. When I saw that the book was pitting a traditional painter against an exuberant free spirit, I figured it would be just another anti-intellectual, populist diatribe against so-called "elitist art snobs." Art's frustration with Max is shown to be understandable, though, and not just a snooty conniption fit. Wouldn't you be angry if...more
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New West Children's Book Review
Reptiles, Princesses & Paul Bunyan-Sized Women: New Western Picture Books
New picture books set in Montana and the Sonoran Desert, and one by a Colorado author.
By Jenny Shank, 11-22-10
When my daughter and I look for picture books at the bookstore or library, we follow one rule: Does it look funny? We’re not interested in the messagey books. We like the weird ones that make us giggle. You can tell just by looking at the cov...more
New West Children's Book Review
Reptiles, Princesses & Paul Bunyan-Sized Women: New Western Picture Books
New picture books set in Montana and the Sonoran Desert, and one by a Colorado author.
By Jenny Shank, 11-22-10
When my daughter and I look for picture books at the bookstore or library, we follow one rule: Does it look funny? We’re not interested in the messagey books. We like the weird ones that make us giggle. You can tell just by looking at the cov...more
Illustrators of children’s books are easier to deal with if you can lump them into little boxes. Multicultural family stories that tug at the heartstrings? That’s the Patricia Polacco box. Cute kids in period clothes frolicking with goats? Yup, that’s Tasha Tudor. So my problem with David Wiesner is that he throws my entire system off. Though his style is recognizable in each and every one of his books (Freefall, Sector 7, etc.) his storylines zigzag around the globe. One minute he has a book ab...more
Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max’s first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he’s courageous and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion. Beginners everywhere will take heart. (Goodreads Summary)
Art & Max is a visu...more
Art & Max is a visu...more
Oct 28, 2012
Alexa Mazur
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mazuralexadigitalbookshelf
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I think students will as well. This book is about two boys named Arthur and Max. They both love to paint. Art has been painting for a long time, and he knows what he is doing. Max on the other hand, is new to painting, and is still unsure of everything he needs to know about it. On Max's very first painting attempt, he does a good job, and sends him and Art through very artistic media. Although Max doesn't have a lot of experience, he is very enthusiastic and has a...more
Art and Max is a sweet and entertaining tale of two artists: one who is rather good and one that has alot of learning to do. As the story unfolds, Max comes upon Art completing a painting of another lizard. Max gets very excited at what he sees and decides that he really wants to paint his own picture. Art gets a little annoyed with Max, but lets him paint anyway. Max, however is unsure what his painting should be of, so he asks Art for advice. Art suggests that Max paint a picture of Art, excep...more
This was a very fun read. It shows the relationship between the serious type (Arthur) and the care-free, somewhat disruptive type (Max). The book uses pictures to illustrate these differences very well. In the beginning, it's Arthur trying to paint a portrait of another creature and Max showing up and knocking things over and causing a disturbance. Eventually, Max gets paint all over Arthur, and in a bit to fix it, actually causes the stripped down illustration of Arthur to become undone! This,...more
Feb 20, 2013
Heather
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
library-materials-for-children,
wiesner-david
In this story, which is one of Wiesner's works that utilize text, Max, a young lizard persuades older lizard, and artist, Art, to allow him to paint with him. Upon agreement, the suggestion is made that Max paint Art as his subject, at which point Max covers Art with paint. From here, Max goes to great lengths to try to restore Art to his original form, but in doing so only distorts him more, even unraveling him entirely at one point. Wiesner has commented, in a short video on his website, that...more
I always approach a new Wiesner book with huge expectations. I mean, this is the three-time Caldecott medalist! I guarantee this will not disappoint, no matter how high your expectations are.
Arthur is quite a painter. He does portraits of lizards as they pose for him. Max wants to learn and Arthur is willing to teach him. The first step is Max figuring out what to paint. Arthur grandly suggests that Max could paint him. So Max does exactly that, with deep blue and bright yellow, he paints Arthur...more
Arthur is quite a painter. He does portraits of lizards as they pose for him. Max wants to learn and Arthur is willing to teach him. The first step is Max figuring out what to paint. Arthur grandly suggests that Max could paint him. So Max does exactly that, with deep blue and bright yellow, he paints Arthur...more
Talk about saying alot in afew words and pictures!! I love this book!
It's really just about breaking through pre-set borders, or values, or laws - call it what ever you want - that certain groups (age, educational, experts, professionals) want art to be. What THEY think it is and what it should be. And how people will agree with them because they don't know any different (and can't do it on their own anyways! I believe those are called Patrons....!).
But sometimes - just sometimes - if they're...more
It's really just about breaking through pre-set borders, or values, or laws - call it what ever you want - that certain groups (age, educational, experts, professionals) want art to be. What THEY think it is and what it should be. And how people will agree with them because they don't know any different (and can't do it on their own anyways! I believe those are called Patrons....!).
But sometimes - just sometimes - if they're...more
This particular story is geared toward a student who is very imaginative and loves art. The level of reading that this story typically gears toward would be a kindergarten or first grade level. This age group will love this book because many of them have imaginary friends, which this books shows that a friend that is not necessarily real, is okay to have.
The story is about Max who is a wreck-less crazy art student who is excited about art. Throughout the story, Max seems to keep making Art mad....more
The story is about Max who is a wreck-less crazy art student who is excited about art. Throughout the story, Max seems to keep making Art mad....more
I seriously think this is one of Wiesner's best works yet! Art & Max is about an artist and a want-to-be artist who are friends. Max(the novice) stresses Art out with his constant questions and peering eyes. Max ends up erasing Art's colors until he is only a line drawing and then he manages to undo that as well, leaving Art a mess. Once put back together, and re-colored, Art realizes that Max isn't so bad and that perhaps he can learn a thing or two from his novice friend. I thought that th...more
This is Wiesner’s newest book that he has released. It is about two lizards, Art and Max, who are painters. Art is the better of the painters and Max wants to learn. Max asked Art what to paint and he said, “Paint me!” So Max literally started to paint Art. With all the paint on Art, he began to loose himself until he became just a ball of scribbles. So Max had to put him back together using his new artistic skills. Art was happy with his new look and they both began painting together! I could...more
Art & Max is a pretty simple story with phenomenal art. I think the bright colors and interesting pictures will help interest young children and beginning readers.
A young child can use their own imagination to create a story if they can't yet read, an important first step, to develop an interest in books. And it's an easy story to memorize, so the child can "read" it to themselves, again, another great first step. It also throws in a few difficult words, which help build vocabulary without...more
A young child can use their own imagination to create a story if they can't yet read, an important first step, to develop an interest in books. And it's an easy story to memorize, so the child can "read" it to themselves, again, another great first step. It also throws in a few difficult words, which help build vocabulary without...more
David Wiesner is one of my favorite authors, because he manages to tell a story with brilliant illustrations and very little words. Art and Max is a wonderful new addition to his collection. Art is an accomplished artist, while Max is a beginning that just seems to get in the way. When he attempts to paint Art (a wonderful play on words) he creates quite a fiasco. This is a great book to use for an illustrator unit on David Wiesner to show how his illustrations tell a story. Awards for this book...more
The illustrations in this book are beautiful and the concept is funny and thoughtful. The two main characters, Art who prefers to be called Arthur, and Max are both artists. But Art takes art very seriously where as Max wants to have fun. There is some play on Art being a chameleon where he turns the colors of the paint that is splashed on him and becomes transparent when he drinks water. This could definitely start a conversation about different techniques in art and famous artists who have use...more
Max, the lizard (I think), takes the phrase "paint me" literally when his friend, Arthur, another lizard (I think), suggests just that. Before we know it, Max has doused Arthur in paint and makes him furious. Max does all he can to remove the paint from Arthur but goes a little too far and all shape from Arthur disappears. I really don't understand the rest of the book and why it took the direction it did. The colors in it are pretty but other than that I don't really know who would enjoy this b...more
What a clever book! Max is a budding artist who just can't wait to dive in, but he doesn't know what to paint. Arthur, the more seasoned artist said "Well...you could paint me" and that's where it gets a bit, well, messy. Max, just like the literal Amelia Bedelia, actually paints Arthur from head to toe. Chaos, of course, ensues, into a royal mess. Arthur becomes a bit, shall we say, disheveled, and Max helps put him back together again. This is a great story with lots of detailed illustrations,...more
I have to admit to a little bit of shock at the great ratings for this book. I think it lands right above 'sucks'. Julia thought it was great but wait - she only thought the art was great - nothing else.
I don't think either is great. Or even good for that matter. So, how do I rate this? 1 for me? 5 for the art for Julia? 1 for the story for Julia? Help!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to go with a 2 star rating. I don't think this is an author either of us would really like. After reading some of the revie...more
I don't think either is great. Or even good for that matter. So, how do I rate this? 1 for me? 5 for the art for Julia? 1 for the story for Julia? Help!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to go with a 2 star rating. I don't think this is an author either of us would really like. After reading some of the revie...more
Love, love, love this book! David Wiesner's illustration is always amazing, and this one is no exception. Arthur is some sort of lizard hanging out in the desert, painting his fellow reptiles when Max, another lizard, decides that he wants to paint, too. Dumbfounded, Max asks Art what he should paint, and Art says, "Well, you could paint me." Max immediately splashes a spectrum of colors all over Art's body, leaving him rainbow-hued. Water only makes matters worse by erasing all of Art's color,...more
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During David Wiesner's formative years, the last images he saw before closing his eyes at night were the books, rockets, elephant heads, clocks, and magnifying glasses that decorated the wallpaper of his room. Perhaps it was this decor which awakened his creativity and gave it the dreamlike, imaginative quality so often found in his work.
As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner re-cre...more
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As a child growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner re-cre...more
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Feb 14, 2012 06:26pm