I recommend this series by Fausto Gilberti and I’m not sorry.

There are three books so far in this contemporary artist series by Fausto Gilberti and I hope that there will be more to come.

The first in the series is Yves Klein, Painted Everything Blue and Wasn’t Sorry. That’s why I wanted this book. That title… that amusing illustration of Yves and his blue hand. And the message for kids— given right there in the title. THAT is what art is. THAT is what contemporary art is. And THAT is a very hard point to get across to both kids and adults.

Fausto Gilberti wrote these books to explain contemporary art to his young children. There are many fantastic biographies in kid-book land documenting our trailblazing artists. But this collection is different. The illustrator’s style is so bold and fresh.

The books themselves are designed impeccably. They are simple, funny, and approachable. Each one gives a very kid-friendly brief bio of how the artist found and developed their own unique, and quirky style.

At the back is a slightly more in-depth synopsis of the artist as well as a photograph of one painting by them.

The second in this series is Jackson Pollock, Splashed Paint and Wasn’t Sorry.

Followed by Yoyoi Kusama, Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry (I laugh out loud every time I look at this cover).

I think the message of these books is so important to teach to our kids. Art is not who can render the most realistic bowl of fruit. Art is a passion to creatively express oneself.

Each of these artists had a conviction to explore art and create in their very own, unique, and unconventional way—- And they weren’t sorry.

Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Jennifer is the illustrator and author of several acclaimed picture books. Most recently is Always by My Side, 'A Stuffie Story', which she wrote and illustrated. She also is both the author and illustrator of Playing Possum, and Blue Ethel. Jennifer illustrated Gondra’s Treasure, written by Newbery award winner Linda Sue Park. As well as, Sometimes You Fly, by Newbery medalist, Katherine Applegate. She illustrated Yaks Yak, Animal Word Pairs by Linda Sue Park, The Inventor's Secret, What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford, by Suzanne Slade, Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons, by Alice B. McGinty, and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz.

22 Comments:

  1. Jennifer, These look amazing. What a wonderful series to teach evenreally small children about creativity and art. Thanks for posting. I’ll definitely look for them.

  2. These books are so original…just like art!

  3. I’m really impressed by these books. They will go perfectly with our Summer Art Experience program at our library!

  4. Those are bold and stylistic books! They look wonderful! Since I don’t really understand contemporary art, I better read them!

  5. So clever! And that’s the perfect publisher for this series.

  6. Wow- super original -love it and congrats!

  7. They look like a work of art!

  8. What a fantastic set of books. I can’t wait to find them.

  9. Haha! I love the I’m not sorry part. This is incredible.

  10. What a great way to show how artists found their niche, and weren’t sorry they were different. The illustrations are wonderful.

  11. As a “not an artist”, I appreciate this book!

  12. What wonderful books. I would have loved these when I was a kid. I took art lessons and never did anything right. I was always told to slow down. My book would have been called Lisa Frenkel Painted Everything Quickly And Wasn’t Sorry! Gosh, I feel better already.

  13. I love this blog post and I’m not sorry. What a funny, creative and fresh take on artists and their art.

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