Art This Way by Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford- ESSENTIAL

Art This Way by Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford. BOARD BOOK. Phaidon Press, 2019.  $20. 9780714877211

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Art This Way is the forth book in a series published in collaboration with the Whitney Museum of American Art.  The authors focus on different ways for readers, especially children, to look at art.  This husband and wife duo begin their board book with the following invitation: “Walk around, open up, look down, and up and in and out, look close, look behind, and keep looking.”  Beginning with page one, readers interactively experience Art This Way by turning the first print by Carmen Herrera upside down to discover that the print is exactly the same both directions! Page after page readers lifts flaps, opens connected pages, and gets a sneak peak of a small portion of a larger print.  Children will delight learning about Cindy Sherman’s photographs as they are able to see themselves in a reflective mirrored page designed just for them.  The invitation to “keep looking” reminds all of us that art is all around us- we just need to find it!

We loved this interactive book!  Adults and children alike will love exploring and discussing each page of Art This Way.High praise for Shopsin and Fulford for creating such a wonderful masterpiece.  Art This Way can be used in a classroom unit on art appreciation.  This is a unique and interesting board book that should be in every home and school library. 

Reviewer: SL