Nine Famous Artists Your Children Will Love.

Michael Napoliello Jr. Santa Ana, CA: Seven Locks Press (800-354-5348), 2003. Illus., hardcover, 156 pp., $19.95.

Described as an art primer for parents and children, this book would also be a helpful resource for art and classroom teachers, grades three to seven. It is the author's contention that children who are exposed to art at an early age and who then grow up appreciating it, end up being brighter, happier, and healthier human beings. While there may be empirical insufficiency in proving such a belief, this book does provide valid information and interesting ideas to buttress an exposure to art rationale.

Napoliello begins by explaining why he chose these particular nine artists--Calder, Grooms, Kandinsky, L4ger, Lichtenstein, Miro, Oldenburg, Pollock, and David Smith--to test his thesis. The avoidance of social and political content, the "fun" possibilities suggested by their approach to creating art, and their significant contributions to art history were among the factors applied.

Brief biographies are provided for each artist, complemented by numerous color reproductions of their art expression.

An art activity relating to the style or technique of several of the artists is suggested with materials needed and process directions provided. These include a mobile for Calder, painting to music for Kandinsky, and an abstract sculpture for Smith.

Am excellent chapter on preparing children for a visit to an art museum and an extensive thirty-two page glossary of art terms, along with a state-by-state listing of art museums and galleries, with websites and addresses, are also of value.