If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur

In the second of a playful, conceptual series (following If Picasso Painted a Snowman), the Newbolds, a married team, reimagine classic works of art with a prehistoric twist. A friendly hamster draws with a purple crayon: "If Leonardo Da Vinci drew a dinosaur, it might look like..." The result is a mash-up of da Vinci's Vitruvian Man and a pterodactyl. Plesiosaurs surf Katsushika Hokusai's wave, and in Edvard Munch's iconic painting, the figure on the bridge has a real reason to scream. The image replications capture each artist's styles and the works' recognizable features. While the hamster, who offers casual commentary on the art, may distract with its incongruous art style, the creators deliver a memorable introduction to famed works of art. Ages 6-10. (Oct. 2018)-- "PW" (10/15/2018 12:00:00 AM)
PRES-GR 3--What would it be like for dinosaurs to show up in some of the world's most famous works of art? Readers will love naming their favorite dinosaurs and artists in this brightly illustrated, captivating follow-up to If Picasso Painted a Snowman by the same author/illustrator team. A stegosaurus and a triceratops munch on grass in Grandma Moses's garden, a pack of plesiosauri surf on Katsushika Hokusai's iconic wave, and bright dinosaur shapes are scattered among Henri Matisse's iconic colorful paper cutouts. The final masterpiece is the Dino Lisa: a maiasaura disguised as Leonardo da Vinci's most recognizable work. At the end of the story, readers are asked how they would draw a dinosaur, and are given a canvas to create their own work of art. Not only are the illustrations whimsical and attention-grabbing for younger readers, an array of artistic styles and media are represented, featuring artists from many different historical periods and cultures. Dinosaur types are not named in words until the end of the book, sparking a dialogue between children and adults about which dinosaurs they see. A list of artists and their short biographies are included in the back of the book, as well as some advice for readers who hope to be artists when they grow up. VERDICT: An obvious choice for young art enthusiasts, dinosaur lovers, and aspiring artists-- "School Library Journal" (11/8/2018 12:00:00 AM)