About this page: Appearing monthly during the summer, this page provides youngsters and their parents with age-appropriate readings suggested by local experts and regional libraries. Also included are activities and fun facts for entertainment and learning.
Fine Arts
Suggested titles
Infants and preschoolers
1. "All I See" by Cynthia Rylant
2. "The Art Lesson" by Tomie dePaola
3. "Ben's Trumpet" by Rachel Isadora
4. "A Blue Butterfly: A Story About Claude Monet" by Bijou Le Tord
5. "Bravo, Tanya" by Patricia Lee Gauch
6. "Fox On Stage" by James Marshall
7. "I Am an Artist" by Pat Lowery Collins
8. "Mama Don't Allow" by Thacher Hurd
9. "Mole Music" by David McPhail
10. "Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin" by Lloyd Moss
Ages 4 to 8
1. "Amadeus Mozart" by Ibi Lepscky
2. "Duke Ellington" by Andrea Davis Pinkney
3. "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" retold by Tomie dePaola
4. "Marie in Fourth Position: The Story of Degas' 'The Little Dancer' " by Amy Littlesugar
5. "Matthew's Dream" by Leo Lionni
6. "Michelangelo's Surprise" by Tony Parillo
7. "My Name is Georgia" by Jeanette Winter (excerpted on Page 8l of today's Home & Family section)
8. "Painting the Wind: A Story of Vincent van Gogh" by Michelle Dionetti
9. "Satchmo's Blues" by Alan Schroeder (will be excerpted in Wednesday's Today section)
10. "Swan Lake" by Rachel Isadora
Ages 9 to 12
1. "Ballet Stories" chosen by Harriet Castor
2. "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" by Barbara Nichol
3. "A Drawing in the Sand: A Story of African American Art" by Jerry Butler
4. "Grandma Moses: Painter of Rural America" by Zibby Oneal
5. "Linnea in Monet's Garden" by Christina Bjork
6. "Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought)" by Kathleen Krull
7. "Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought)" by Kathleen Krull
8. "Ribbons" by Laurence Yep
9. "Theater Shoes" by Noel Streatfeild
10. "A Weekend with Picasso" by Florian Rodari
Quiz time
Infants and preschoolers
In "All I See," how does shy Charlie let Gregory know he's been admiring his work?
In "The Art Lesson," what does Tommy get for his birthday that he's not allowed to use in art class?
In "Ben's Trumpet," why do the kids make fun of Ben?
In "A Blue Butterfly: A Story About Claude Monet," in what city and country does Monet paint?
In "Bravo, Tanya," who sneaks up on Tanya and Barbara Bear while they dance in the field?
In "Fox on Stage," what's the name of Fox's play?
In "I Am an Artist," what does it take to be an artist?
In "Mama Don't Allow," how does Miles save the Swamp Band?
In "Mole Music," what does Mole want to do after learning to play the violin?
In "Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin," which instrument has "steely keys that softly click" and "breezy notes so darkly slick?"
Ages 4 to 8
In "Amadeus Mozart," when did his parents realize Mozart had a talent?
In "Duke Ellington," what kind of music sets "Duke's fingers to wiggling?"
In "The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush," what is Little Gopher's name changed to?
In "Marie in Fourth Position: The Story of Degas' 'The Little Dancer,' " what contest does Monsieur Degas enter his sculpture in?
In "Matthew's Dream," what does Matthew dream he and Nicoletta are walking through?
In "Michelangelo's Surprise," what surprise does the famous artist present to the people?
In "My Name is Georgia," what types of flowers does Georgia paint?
In "Painting the Wind: A Story of Vincent van Gogh," why is Vincent driven out of Arles?
In "Satchmo's Blues," where does Louis buy his horn?
In "Swan Lake," what must Siegfried do to break the spell sorcerer Von Rothbart puts on the handmaidens?
Ages 9 to 12
In the "Ballet Stories" chapter titled "Lucy Jane and the Russian Ballet," what happens to Lucy Jane and Marie?
In "Beethoven Lives Upstairs," why does Christoph start writing to his Uncle Karl?
In "A Drawing in the Sand: A Story of African American Art," what subject did artist Romare Bearden study at New York University?
In "Grandma Moses: Painter of Rural America," what major events did Grandma Moses witness in her lifetime?
In "Linnea in Monet's Garden," how do Linnea and Mr. Bloom get inside the Water Lily Rooms?
In "Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the Neighbors Thought)," why did Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo remain such good friends?
In "Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought)," how did Giuseppe Verdi's mother save his life?
In "Ribbons," why can't Robin take ballet lessons anymore?
In "Theater Shoes," who shows up to surprise Sorrel, Mark and Holly on Christmas 1943?
In "A Weekend with Picasso," what is the artist's idea of a perfect ending to an afternoon?
Answers will appear on the Sept. 5 Parent & Child page. Or check them out on The Sun's Web page at www.readingby9.com.
Activities
Chinese egg painting
Chinese egg painting is an ancient tradition still in use today. It was so special that the Chinese put painted eggs in holy buildings as an offering to God.
Materials:
White chicken egg
Watercolor paints
Cup of water
Small paintbrush
Paper clip
Small bowl
Milk bottle cap (or small plastic or wood ring)
Pencil
Glue
1. Open the paper clip so you have a long, straight piece. With the wide end of the egg up, gently tap an opening in the egg using the clip's sharp end. Be careful not to crack the whole egg.
2. Empty the insides into a small bowl and discard. Dry the outside of the egg.
3. Glue the eggshell, punctured side down, onto the bottle cap. Let dry.
4. Lightly draw a design on the eggshell with a pencil.
5. Paint your egg with watercolors, keeping the painting light and open. Rinse the brush between each color. Let dry.
-- From "The Kids' Multicultural Art Book" by Alexandra M. Terzian
Huichol yarn art
Many people around the world buy yarn paintings of the Huichol (WEE-chol) Indians of northwest Mexico because of the brilliant colors and interesting designs that tell stories about their history and religion.
Materials:
Yarn, many colors
Glue
Popsicle stick
Tape
Scrap cardboard, any size
1. Start with a scrap piece of cardboard. Squeeze out a bead of glue into a design you wish. Birds, people, fish, deer and the sun are among the designs the Huichol Indians use.
2. Take the end of a long length of yarn and begin pressing it onto the glue. Use a Popsicle stick to help press the yarn in place.
3. Switch colors and fill up the whole surface of the cardboard with yarn, including the background of your designs. Let this dry.
4. Glue or tape a small piece of yarn to the back of the cardboard to hang your yarn art.
-- From "The Kids' Multicultural Art Book" by Alexandra M. Terzian
Q. What musical key do you hear when a race car speeds through a coal mine?
A. A-flat miner (minor).
Q. What would you get if you crossed a sweet potato and a jazz musician?
A. Yam sessions.
Q. Where do cows go to see art?
A. Moo-seums
-- From "The Little Giant Book of Riddles" by Joseph Rosenbloom
While Vincent Van Gogh was living in Arles, he painted more than 200 pictures, but he only sold one painting while he was alive.
Artist Henri Rousseau worked in the Paris Customs Office and took up painting as a hobby.
-- From "Discover Great Paintings" by Lucy Micklethwait
Q. Why did the classical composer suddenly leave the grocery store?
A.He forgot his Chopin Liszt.
Q. What did the opera singer scream when his car had a blowout?
A."Eeeeeeee flat"
Q. What famous painter worked at a nuclear plant?
A.Vincent Van Glow.
-- From "Greatest Jokes on Earth" by Matt Rissinger & Philip Yates
For the Chinese, calligraphy (the art of handwriting) was as important an art as painting. A piece of calligraphy was often hung on a wall like a painting, and many paintings have writing on them.
-- From "The Usborne Story of Painting" by Anthea Peppin