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Book Review of Van Gogh (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Van Gogh (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)
reviewed on + 4 more book reviews


This is in the series "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists". Every book in this series is a winner, and this is one of the best. Using photos of Van Gogh's art and cartoon drawings to illustrate his life, this 32 page biography includes many facts and information that is readily accessible to children. They enjoy the illustrations and understand the large print of the text, which is clear, concise and well-written. It doesn't talk down to children and includes the problems in Van Gogh's life, treated in a clear and understandable way for children: "Sometimes he was too angry to paint, and sometimes he was too sad to paint. When he felt good, he painted better than ever."
You can tell I like this book. I have had experience reading it to individual children and to classes of third graders, always with success, which means interest and learning. Children return to this book. It's not just about art, but about life, and they like the reality of it.