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Artful Reading (Bob Raczka's Art Adventures) by Bob Raczka
Bob Raczka has introduced countless children to the pleasures of looking at art. In this book, he adds a new element to the experiencethe joy of reading. Youll see all kinds of readers here, in works of art ranging in time from Antonello Da Messinas St. Jerome in His Study (1475) to Jacob Lawrences The Library (1960), and ranging in style from Rossettis The Day Dream to Picassos Two Girls Reading. But no matter the era or the style, each and every painting tells a story about a reader. Art lovers and book lovers alike will enjoy this look at the fine art of reading.
Paperback
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 4, 2022
Rounded up to four stars. I wanted more diversity, though I imagine there are fewer works from, say, Japan or Brazil that would fit. And I'm not sure that Raczka and I have the same taste. Still, I probably would have bought this when my boys were little, and if I were an art teacher in an elementary school I would have it in my room, too.
Highly recommended to all educators, including families who enrich and those who homeschool.
I will look for more by the author.
Highly recommended to all educators, including families who enrich and those who homeschool.
I will look for more by the author.
April 25, 2016
This collection of paintings has one thing in common -- each depicts one or more books. The text ties it all together for a simple, happy read. Nearly two dozen American and European artists spanning seven centuries are depicted. Of personal joy to me is the inclusion of The Bookworm by Carl Spitzweg, which is owned by the Milwaukee Public Library.
September 15, 2022
The last time I read this book it was a library book. I loved it so much, I bought a copy. What a treasure! I am going to enjoy reading again and again...and again.
August 7 2022: LOVE this book so much I am buying my own copy. It combines two of my great loved--art and reading.
August 7 2022: LOVE this book so much I am buying my own copy. It combines two of my great loved--art and reading.
November 2, 2016
1. Book Summary in your own words
The author introduces children to different kinds of readers, in works of art. He adds the experience of the joy of reading to the pleasure of looking at art. Reading and art mixed together, who would have thought?
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades: PreK-2
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
Reading, art
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who love reading and/or art.
5. Small group use (literature circles)
In small groups, students are given the task of discussing a chosen genre of book.
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
As a whole class, we will talk about what kinds of books we each like and what kinds of art we like. We will then combine what we like with what someone else likes to make a pair.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area
Beautiful Odds! by Barney Saltzberg
8. Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_UWC...
The author introduces children to different kinds of readers, in works of art. He adds the experience of the joy of reading to the pleasure of looking at art. Reading and art mixed together, who would have thought?
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades: PreK-2
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
Reading, art
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who love reading and/or art.
5. Small group use (literature circles)
In small groups, students are given the task of discussing a chosen genre of book.
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
As a whole class, we will talk about what kinds of books we each like and what kinds of art we like. We will then combine what we like with what someone else likes to make a pair.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area
Beautiful Odds! by Barney Saltzberg
8. Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_UWC...
July 31, 2008
I'd give it more stars if I could! Love, Love IT! Now my only problem is how to get a deal on a copy for everyone I love, my sisters,mom, aunt, grandaughters, friends etc. I need at least 20 copies of this beautiful work featuring charming text and famous artworks of all sorts of people reading. Do not delay, get it from your library or book store-One to read and re-read.
June 29, 2013
This book is filled with paintings/artwork by a variety of famous artists: Van Gogh, Vermeer, Cezanne just to name a few... and each piece of artwork shows a person/people reading. There is very little text, but the text describes what we read, why we read, who we read with. A nice introduction to famous artists and can't beat that the book is all about the benefits and joys of reading!
April 17, 2015
I'm on board with any picture book that introduces young readers to Art. This one did a great job. By using pieces of artwork that featured reading, the author was able to tell something of a story, or to at least have the text make sense.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because of some of the pieces used.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because of some of the pieces used.
November 7, 2010
Readers are captured through the ages in famous works of art. A visual masterpiece that delivers a wonderful message- Read! I'm putting this one at the top of my holiday shopping list for all ages, young and old!
June 1, 2015
A book for book lovers to read over and over again. Simple rhyming text accompanies artwork from the masters. I wish these were all posters to plaster my library! a fun way to introduce classic art as well as promote reading.
June 16, 2008
Beautiful book full of images with people reading found in art through the centuries. I wish I had had this as a bedtime book when my daughter was a youngster.
June 6, 2018
This gorgeous book contains 23 paintings from global art galleries that show people reading. The small text tells us about the title of the painting, the artist, the year it was painted, and the art gallery (& city where it is featured). The large text is in rhyme and talks about the enjoyment of reading in many different places. Today, with 6th grade, we discussed that the Cezanne painting about reading the news is not seen much anymore. People are reading the news on their devices. But surely, we will see images of people reading on devices more prevalently in our society shortly. We also discussed the page where a person has received and is reading a letter. We talked about how it may be a dying art, but receiving a letter is a pretty special event! Some other artists that were included and familiar to the students: Van Gogh, Degas, Hopper, Rembrandt, and Picasso. A true "find" in this book: The Bookworm by Carl Spitzweg from 1850 and is @ the Milwaukee Public Library!
January 13, 2018
A great introduction to art for kids. It combines something they love (reading) with paintings that hang in museums around the world. It gives many different reasons to read and uses the paintings to illustrate them.
September 11, 2019
Sweet text, encouraging kids to read more. Each page is 'illustrated' with a real masterpiece...from all art schools and all eras...Read. This would be fun to use in an art class, to then use this as a mentor text to create another book of art.
January 11, 2021
Famous paintings of readers accompany the light poetry of Bob Raczka. Artists vary from Antonello da Messina, to Renoir, to Dennis Hopper. There's even a hidden mystery reader in one of the paintings!
October 26, 2017
Bob Raczka's art books are really cool. He uses pieces of art in this book to encourage the reader to read. Each art piece is a subject reading something.
July 25, 2019
Art pieces featuring people reading.
May 28, 2020
Pairing places/reasons to read with great works of art. This is such a cool book.
In the back of the book is a list of all the paintings and painters and a brief description of the artwork.
In the back of the book is a list of all the paintings and painters and a brief description of the artwork.
June 26, 2020
Great way to show art to kids!
March 18, 2016
Amazon Book Description:
Through 23 works of art, Raczka shows the timeless appeal of reading. The book begins with reading as a solitary occupation in August Macke's Man Reading in the Park (1914) and ends with the community of readers in Jacob Lawrence's The Library (1960).
Simple sentences serve as captions to these masterpieces: 'Read to discover what something means./Read to escape to a place you can dream.' Pages are bordered with triple deckle edges in white, cream, and mahogany with beautifully reproduced images of young and old readers dominating them. Each work is clearly labeled, and endnotes provide information about the artists and their paintings, among them Edgar Degas and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
The selections send the clear message that reading has engrossed humankind for centuries--the oldest painting is Antonello da Messina's St. Jerome in His Study (ca. 1475). Raczka encourages children to 'Read all the words you can possibly hold,' while cleverly allowing them to discover for themselves the stories these paintings tell. This eye-catching collection is a welcome addition."
School Library Journal
Through 23 works of art, Raczka shows the timeless appeal of reading. The book begins with reading as a solitary occupation in August Macke's Man Reading in the Park (1914) and ends with the community of readers in Jacob Lawrence's The Library (1960).
Simple sentences serve as captions to these masterpieces: 'Read to discover what something means./Read to escape to a place you can dream.' Pages are bordered with triple deckle edges in white, cream, and mahogany with beautifully reproduced images of young and old readers dominating them. Each work is clearly labeled, and endnotes provide information about the artists and their paintings, among them Edgar Degas and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
The selections send the clear message that reading has engrossed humankind for centuries--the oldest painting is Antonello da Messina's St. Jerome in His Study (ca. 1475). Raczka encourages children to 'Read all the words you can possibly hold,' while cleverly allowing them to discover for themselves the stories these paintings tell. This eye-catching collection is a welcome addition."
School Library Journal
September 6, 2016
Bob Raczka showcases how artists throughout time have been inspired and influenced by the simple past time of reading. Art lovers and bibliophiles alike will enjoy the various images and additional information in the afterward about the artists.
July 11, 2008
Very unique.
May 11, 2010
My blog Apples with Many Seeds includes this book:
http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blo...
http://applewithmanyseedsdoucette.blo...
November 5, 2010
I'm always on the lookout for books that talk about art without preaching about art. This one fits the bill.
February 4, 2012
Uses paintings from different eras to talk about reading. At the end it gives a little snipped of knowledge about the painting/painter.
February 23, 2012
After enjoying Raczka's Speaking of Art recently, I decided to read his other art adventures. I ask you, what librarian can resist this theme?
October 3, 2013
I liked this book because it encouraged reading through famous paintings.
Read
February 23, 2014Art combined with places and ways to read.
August 17, 2017
I bought it because it has one of my favorite Picasso's on the cover and I love art that depicts books and readers.
July 2, 2015
Bookaday #46. Read this in a workshop on media literacy, love the different paintings of readers! Will investigate more books by this author and share them with the art teacher!
March 9, 2016
A very cool book that has reproductions of famous painters' works that showcase people reading. Spare on the text, but that's okay because the artwork is really a feast for the eyes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews