Bookcase: Arts

Imagine That! Activities and Adventures in Surrealism

ehuyck — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:52:16 -0500

Surrealists thought artists should be more free and spontaneous and make art in a childlike way. I’m not sure how many children they actually knew, since you never see surrealists painting dragons or space ships. But if they're right, are kids natural surrealists? Why not give it a try? This interesting and very active book combines stories about some famous surrealist artists with art projects you can do yourself. Who knows? Maybe we can teach the art world a thing or two. At least we can have fun trying!

The Iron Giant

ehuyck — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:31:08 -0400

The Iron Giant came to the top of the cliff. How far had he walked? Nobody knows. Where had he come from? Nobody knows. How was he made? Nobody knows.
He eats tractors and telephone wires, and anything made of metal. But he has a gentle soul. This book was written a long time ago, but it is one of my favorite robot stories. It tells the tale of the unlikely friendship between the mysterious iron giant and a boy called Hogarth, who first traps the Giant in a big pit, then becomes his friend. And together, they save the earth from a terrible war.

Cartooning

ehuyck — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:30:01 -0400

Do you love comics? Can’t wait for the next issue to come out? Why wait! Make your own! This book shows you how to draw funny faces, animals, superheroes, and villains, and how to put them together into action-packed cartoons. The secrets of the pros, revealed for you!

The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions

ehuyck — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:36:00 -0400

If you want to see even more astonishing optical illusions, here is a great big book of them. Hundreds! Watch faces morph into vases, ponder impossible landscapes, and make your eyes see shapes that aren’t there. When you’re done with this book, you’ll never trust your eyes again.

Tricky Video

ehuyck — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:43:55 -0400

This is a book full of fun special effects and camera tricks that you can do with just about any camera, even if you don’t have a fancy computer. Make a stapler zoom across a table, unscramble eggs, watch your toys move on their own, and turn your best friend into a zombie--all with the magic of film. You’ll never believe a film again after this book reveals their tricky video secrets.

The Firework-Maker’s Daughter

ehuyck — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:57:36 -0400

If you’re looking for a little break from reality, here is a fun adventure story about fireworks, pirates, demons, and a talking white elephant. Lila’s father is training her to be a firework-maker, but to become a real master she has to visit the fire demon and obtain the magical ingredient, Royal Sulfur. She has many adventures on the way, meets interesting people, foils some inept pirates who keep reappearing in different jobs, and perseveres through many amazing plot twists.

Pepi and the Secret Names

ehuyck — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:50:08 -0400

This is a story about ancient Egypt based on real tomb paintings and hieroglyphs. Pepi’s father needs models for his paintings in the tomb of Prince Thutmose. Pepi uses their secret names to coax a lion, hawk, crocodile, and cobra into sitting for their portraits—now, who’s missing?

The Pet Dragon

ehuyck — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:46:37 -0400

One day Lin receives a great present—a baby dragon! But their hijinks get out of hand, the dragon is banished, and Lin sets out to find him. This entertaining story is also a great way to learn to look at Chinese characters in a way that makes them very memorable indeed!

Dare to be Scared

ehuyck — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:05:50 -0400

Nightmares that come alive, sinister amusement parks, ghostly figures that beckon from the dark...do you dare to read on? Why do we like to read scary stories? Who knows? But if you do, this is a great book for a blustery night. There are thirteen stories, and I'll just say, it doesn't always turn out that the ghost is the neighbor's cat in a sheet. Read them with the lights on!

Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears

ehuyck — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:35:32 -0400

Arachnophobia is a fear of spiders, clinophobia is the fear of going to bed, and if you have phagophobia, you’re afraid of being eaten. This little mouse is afraid of everything (panphobia, fear of everything), and has made you this funny little book to explain to you each of his many fears. Some of which, in his nervousness, he has had to nibble. A very amusing book and nothing to be afraid of!