BOOKS: Charley Harper Resources for Children

Congratulations to Rachel Hiatt for winning this week's book giveaway!  While this contest is now closed, please come back to SixSeeds for more giveaways for good, family, fun!

At SixSeeds, we believe in the power of a good story.  The books our children are hearing and reading will move, inspire, and sometimes even shape their lives... even young lives. This week, we take a popular kids' book and examine it. Hopefully, the next time you're browsing though a crowded bookstore, our reviews will help you sort through the thousands of titles…  and you can choose wisely!

Title:  Charley Harper Coloring Book of Birds 

Publisher: AMMO Books

Buy it: here

Cost: $6.95

Title: Nesting and Stacking ABC and 123 Blocks 

Publisher: AMMO Books 

Buy it: here

Cost: $18.95

Charley Harper didn’t see shapes as boring lessons in geometry.  Instead he saw shapes as a way to simplify nature and the world into manageable – and beautiful – order.

Each page of “Charley Harper Coloring Book of Birds” holds a minimalistic, yet geometrically savvy drawing of a bird.  Before you envision pulling out the Crayolas and going to town, you might want to slow down. This is not your typical grocery aisle coloring book. In fact, I’m not sure I would actually let my kids color in this one at all. It’s just too darn pretty. (The pages feel amazing as well.) SixSeeds has reviewed several stylish products from AMMO books.

The website dedicated to using Charley Harper’s (1992- 2007) art describes him this way, 

Charley Harper had an alternative way of looking at nature. His serigraphs are large expanses of rich color which give the viewer a very different perspective on the animal kingdom. A conservationist as well as an artist, Harper revealed the unique aspects of his wildlife subjects through highly stylized geometric reduction. Harper said he is "the only wildlife artist who has never been compared to Audubon," yet his wildlife art is just as instructive—the only difference is that Harper laced his lessons with humor. Harper believed that humor makes it easier to encourage change in our attitudes and awareness of environmental concerns.

There is a rare and delightful playfulness in Harper's artwork. There is also graphic genius. Harper said, "When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don't see feathers, fur, scapulars, or tail coverts—none of that. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior, and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures. I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lies the lure of painting: In a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe." 

Charley Harper’s art has also inspired the similarly themed ABC and 123 Nesting Blocks, featuring birds, plus a plethora of other wildlife and nature. The ABC pictures are not only compelling, they are educationally appropriate for a preschooler… though the pictures corresponding with the numbers are a little confusing to navigate.

Even so, these blocks definitely have a place, and not only on a table in a Pottery Barn catalog.  They are made of polished and sturdy cardboard instead of plastic, which will make the green mama smile.  However, this material is just not going to go the distance, which is too bad … kids will want them to last.

Like many AMMO products, however, they are tailored for the hip family who is much more inclined to value style over practicality.  Plus, they’d make great gifts!

For Parents To Consider:

What criteria is at the top of the list when you choose toys for your kids?  Is it educational quality, environmental friendliness, aesthetic beauty, or something entirely different? Which toys are your favorites? Why? We want to hear from you!