Barrington Barber
Barnes & Noble Books
Nonfiction, Art
****
Fundamentals of Drawing Landscapes
Catkin
Antonia Barber
Candlewick Press
Fiction, YA Picture Book
****
DESCRIPTION: Long ago, a wise old woman who lived on a hill gave a gift to the young farming couple who lived on the land below: a tiny golden kitten named Catkin. He and Carrie, the farmer's little girl, became fast friends, and Catkin was her protector... until the day when he carelessly wandered off and Carrie was taken by the faerie of the hill. Now, to make things right, brave and clever little Catkin must enter the enchanted hill and bring the child home. Illustrated by P.J. Lynch.
REVIEW: As with most picture books, one of the main draws is the illustrations, and these are simply beautiful. The story itself is pleasant and quick, and the ending isn't quite as obvious as one might expect. A nice, light read for cat lovers of all ages.
You might also enjoy
Cat Hiss-tory: A Feline Tour through the Ages (Bill Bell, YA Fiction - Fanciful "history" picture book)
Dragon (Jody Bergsma, YA Fiction - A peaceful prince meets an angry dragon)
Comet's Nine Lives (Jan Brett, YA Picture Book - A cat searches for a home before he runs out of lives)
Dinotopia series (James Gurney, YA Fiction - Fantasy illustrated stories of a land where dinosaurs and humans coexist)
Star Cats: A Feline Zodiac (Lesley Ann Ivory, Fiction - Illustrated cat zodiac)
Fairy Dreams (Carol McLean-Carr, YA Fiction - Fairies borrow a girl's toys to take to the ball)
Snow Leopard (Jackie Morris, Fiction - A magical snow leopard protects a village)
The King of Cats and Other Feline Fairy Tales (John Richard Stephens, Nonfiction - Cat fairy tales from around the world)
Fairy Foals (Suzannah, YA Fiction - An artist discovers tiny winged ponies in her garden)
Imagine a Night (Sarah L. Thompson, YA Fiction - Fantasy images by Rob Gonsalves)
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The Fundamentals of Drawing Landscapes
Barrington Barber
Barnes & Noble Books
Nonfiction, Art
****
Fundamentals of Drawing Landscapes
DESCRIPTION: Landscapes aren't just pastoral farms, quiet mountains, blunt city skylines, or old roads. There are countless landscapes to be drawn in the world and imagination, and there are just as many approaches to drawing them. Framing, angle, lighting, tones, style... all affect how viewers respond to your images. This book uses examples from many artists and several practice lessons to demonstrate the very versatile landscape.
REVIEW: An interesting look at landscape drawing, this book effectively demonstrates its many points with many annotated illustrations. I would probably find it more useful if I had the time, location, and materials to actually attempt some of the lessons, which seem simple enough but still require a place to draw, something I don't always have.
You might also enjoy: Drawing & Painting Fantasy Landscapes & Cityscapes (Rob Alexander, Art - Drawing imaginary worlds); Drawing Scenery - Landscapes and Seascapes (Jack Hamm, Art - Drawing landscapes)
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