Teaching Kids Art Through Picture Books
Literature based art ideas for you and your family
How to Make a Cat out of Dots
|
Last week I shared my quest to find cats in Italy. Here’s a quick photo of a pretty white cat we found in Venice. Notice how her white fur shows up. If she were in front of a dark or colored background, she’d show up even more!Â
Today we will make another cat art project based on the wonderful book, They all saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can look it up on YouTube to see the pictures. It’s a great book not only for the illustrations, which are so varied from so many perspectives, but also for its ability to springboard connections across the curriculum to science. If you are doing any kind of animal study, for example, you can use this book to talk about the way different species see the world. If you are talking about the human body, you can use this book to talk about the way our eyes work. If you want to add artist appreciation, you can link this project with a study of contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusami, who is famous for... |
How to draw a cat
Most kids that come to Storygalorey tell me about their interesting pets-or the pets they wish they had. Kids especially love their cats and dogs. That’s why, when Mike and I were on a recent trip to Italy, I was on the lookout for cats. Amid the magnificent art, the ancient buildings, and the fascinating people, I had read that Italians like cats and protect them and that I might encounter lots of them. “Kids would love this,” I thought. So I brought cat photos back to you and we are going to read and do art with cats this month.
If you are new to Storygalorey, you need to know that we almost always start art creation with a good book. Reading to kids inspires creativity and comprehension skills, as well as increases the bond between reader and child. Just for fun, pick up this popular Caldecott Medal winning book and read it to your kids: They all Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel.Â
You will want to read and reread this book to take in the intriguing way the book is illustrated and t...
