BOOKS: Art and Max

Congratulations to Valerie Stockdale 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: Art & Max

Author and Illustrator: David Wiesner

Publisher: Clarion Books

Cost: $17.99

Buy It: Here

Every school has “the kid that can draw.”

Librarians all over the country appreciate David Wiesner, as well as countless children. Best known for his wordless books, he has three Caldecott medals under his belt -- only the second person in history to achieve this honor.  Wiesner graduated from the Rhode Island Institute, but even as a young child he was known as “the boy who could draw.”  As a kid, he became interested in artists such as Michelangelo, da Vinci, and and Dalí.

Weisner’s brilliant work has culminated in over twenty award winning works including:  Tuesday, The Three Pigs, and Flotsam. Of his latest book, Art & Max, he says, “It came to be about the media process itself” and it came together after he explored how different creative mediums affect the story telling process.  Originally thinking he would highlight fluffy animals as the main characters, but as it evolved, he noted that, “lizards are way more fun to draw.”

The story opens with Max asking an artist named Art to teach him how to paint.  Arthur being a tad stuffy agrees, while being a little put out that Max is stuck on calling him Art, when his name is clearly Arthur. As the playful Max begins to paint, he utilizes a variety of artistic mediums, mostly at the expense of Arthur. At the end of the story, both characters are painting together.  And, as a result Arthur seems to have been set free by the novice creator, while the playful Max has reigned in a little of his carelessness.

The Bottom Line:

Art and Max combines beautiful illustrations, and a playful romp between two friends, with a real appreciation for the creative process. This story is clearly an artist’s story. Beginning artists will be encouraged with Max’s progress, while more seasoned artists will appreciate that sometimes fresh inexperience can breath new life into the process… no matter how messy. 

To Talk to Your Kids About

Do you have a budding artist? Point out and discuss the different mediums found in the book. What are their favorite pictures? Why?

Who are they more like, Max or Arthur?  Why?

Good stories involve change of some sort – see if your kids can identify the transformation in the characters: 

How did each character change from the beginning to the end?

What was different about what each character was painting in the beginning as opposed to at the end?

For Parents to Consider:

Each of my children had a completely different idea of what was happening in this story, and my husband and I also came to different conclusions. So, I went searching for what the author had to say about his intentions regarding the plot.  Enjoy it below: 

We are giving this book away this week! Please leave a comment for a chance to win. We always love to hear from you.

On one week from publication at noon (EST), we'll pick a name in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and send you an email notification.  When you receive your package in the mail, you'll find out which book you received!

Limit one (1) entry per person; NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington D.C. who are 18 or older as of date of entry.

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