Tuesday, March 29, 2011

30th March Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890)


While I did include van Gogh in last year's blog entries, I have purchased a new picture book since then that I want to mention. It is called Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind and it is certainly a good looking book and it is a large portrait-shaped book so easy to share with a group. The story written by Chiara Lossani and illustrated by Octavia Monaco was originally published in Italy.

The story follows van Gogh's life from childhood, through the tumultuous years to his untimely death. It explores his relationship with his younger brother Theo and the letters he wrote to him. It includes reproductions of some of his paintings and integrates them into the illustrations which themselves 'splash' colour in a similar manner to van Gogh.

I read a review and ordered the book from a catalogue sight unseen. The review recommended the book for 4 - 8 year olds, but the text is very long, probably overlong for a picture book, written in stanzas, and is hard to read on the painted backgrounds, so I think that this makes it for older children.

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