Saturday, May 14, 2016

Review of Two Books by Kim Bogren Owen: Art Parts and Orchids


ART PARTS
A Child's Introduction to the Elements of Art
by Kim Bogren Owen
Words Reflected
Picture/Art Book
ages 1+
36 pages




A Book that Introduces the Elements of Art to Children


Using simple text and children's art, Art Parts: A Child's Introduction to the Elements of Art introduces children to 6 elements of art.  Designed for children between the ages of 2 and 8, it includes blank pages after each element where children can experiment with the concepts of line, color, shape, texture, space, and emotion. 

These blank pages allow children to personalize the book making it a keepsake to treasure, and a wonderful gift for a special child in your life.  It would, also, be a great asset to any classroom to add to the art center with materials that allow children to investigate the elements of art.

In addition, Art Parts includes an activities page to expand on concepts in the book for parents and teachers to use.  These activities include suggestions for special projects, as well as things parents and teachers can do during everyday routines.




EXCERPT

 "Art is Lines.
Straight lines, Curvy lines, Narrow lines,  Wide lines.
Use this page to draw your own lines.
Art is Shapes.
Circle shapes, Rectangle shapes, Triangle shapes, Odd shapes.
Use this page to draw your own shapes."


MY TIDBITS


Kids and art seem to go hand in hand--at least, my kids have always loved to draw, color, sketch and paste until they've used every piece of blank paper they can find in the house.

This book is a celebration of exactly that. Through simple themes, kids are introduced to the basics of art. The wording is easy enough for even the youngest artists to understand, and it encourages them to try their hand at making art as well. After each basic structure is introduced, a blank page awaits for kids to fill themselves.

Much of the artwork is done by children, giving young artists the opportunity to see the examples at a level they can relate to. The pictures are sweet, colorful and bring out exactly that which the explanations are trying to point out. They invite kids to gaze through them again and again, and try to make an artwork all on their own.

Summed up: this is a great way to introduce the very basic structures of art to kids ages 3 and up.






ORCHIDS
by Kim Bogren Owen
Photos by Amber Owen, Ron Hanko and Mike Pearson
Words Reflected
Picture Book
Non-Fiction
ages 3+




The perfect book for a young orchid or flower enthusiast, as well as for the parent who is a  lover of orchids, Orchids features beautiful photographs that bring the beauty and appeal of orchids to life. In addition to introducing children to the diversity of orchids, this book introduces simple science concepts.  Developed for children between the ages of 2 and 8, the concepts  in this books include opposites, diversity, pollination, and symmetry. 

This book includes a page with ideas for activities that expand on the concepts introduced in Orchids.  These activities include simple art projects, as well as conversation starters to make the concepts meaningful to young children. 






EXCERPT

"Like people, orchids come in all shapes and sizes,
Some have leaves that reach for the sun,
Others have leaves that hug the ground . . . "



MY TIDBITS


Not being a guru on orchids myself, I wondered how a book could take a topic, which seems so specific, and present it in a way kids would enjoy. Now, I know.

Orchids are as varied as fish in the sea, and the pictures and text in this book prove it. Young readers are shown through lovely examples, exactly how special and different orchids can be. It might sound like a technical thing, but the author does a marvelous job bring the flowers to life in a way kids will not only understand, but grasp and head out to see if they see these same traits on flowers they run across themselves. This takes education and makes it into a type of discovery game, letting kids learn and discover in a way they know best--through fun.

The photos are gorgeous. Not only do they clearly represent the traits the author wants to show, but they are simply a treat to thumb through and look at. The vast array of flowers comes to life, illustrating how varied and interesting orchids really are.

Summed up: This is a wonderful book which introduces kids to a realm they normally wouldn't have a chance to discover much about, and it does so in a fun and interesting way. Young listeners will never see orchids and flowers the same, and will probably want to try growing some of their own.


And here she is. . .
KIM BOGREN OWEN!!!



Kim Bogren Owen has worked in Early Childhood Education since 1988 in a variety of programs and roles. Her background includes a Bachelor degree in Cultural Anthropology along with several ECE courses, and she has worked with diverse cultures.She began writing after reading the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in junior high, and began storytelling as a teacher of preschoolers.  

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband, children, and 3 dogs. 


The links for sales are 

Words Reflected's website: http://www.wordsreflected.com/#!shop/avjqe





1 comment:

GlenR said...

My granddaughter, age two and a bit loves art, so thanks for the book recommendation. I'm going to buy it for her to take to Singapore when the family relocates soon for 2 years (sob.