i only know some of vincent van goghs work but i am a big fan of the way he does his art. im not really sure what it is about them but they interest me. i already knew some of the things that were mentioned in this book because ive down research on Van Gogh before. But it is a good informational book and i really like the style that is written in. I like that it seems to be coming from the point of view of a younger kid. ( )

An absolutely adorable books for young children to enjoy. The author does a great job with making the story relatable to children by incorporating amazing illustrations in the book that engages children from beginning to end. Included inside of the book is a board game for children called "job hunt" which makes the book more interactive and allows children to understand how hard it was for Van Gogh to find employment during his life. Vincent Van Gogh is a biography about the famous painter who did not become famous until after his death. It provides the reader with background knowledge about the artist, and also discusses mental illness and depression in a way that is not aggressive but informative to young children. The topics meet the young reader where he or she may be. A very kid friendly book that discusses real life issues. At the end of the book, the author provides a stage for inquiry thinking. "If I were around during the time of Van Gogh, what questions would you ask?" A wonderfully written book. ( )

This children's picture book about Vincent van Gogh is one of an 8-part series that takes the form of a student's report on a famous artist. Others included in the series are Frida Kahlo, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Henri Matisse. Though written for a young audience, it is never condescending and does not sugar-coat the artist's tumultuous life, treating his self-mutilation and experiences with unrequited love. After reading this, I plan to buy the whole series for the young people in my life.

The short book begins with a letter from Ms. Brandt, the teacher who gave the pretend assignment that is being reported to us. Telling about van Gogh from a child's perspective makes the book easily accessible to young people while still presenting important information in a meaningful way. The reporting style allows for a creative format. The sentences are of simple construction but will not bore an adult.

The author made excellent use of images within this playful format that is sprinkled with dancing borders. There are photos such as that of Vincent as a child and of his grave next to his brother Theo's. There are illustrations that support the text and reproductions of Vincent's artwork that are invaluable to any discussion of the artist. The author even includes images of art that influenced his paintings. The illustration on page 11 is really a timeline disguised as a board game.

There are a couple of things to critique. Some of the word usage is not exact enough. For example, on page 14, it says "these artists were nicknamed 'Impressionists.'" "Nicknamed" is not the appropriate word. On page 27, the report asks the artist "Were you sorry you cut off your ear?" He did not cut off his whole ear. While the previous page is accurate in stating he "cut off part of his ear," leaving out that detail here can easily create a false image in a child's mind, sensationalizing the artist's life in a way that I find distasteful.

The book ends with a short glossary (only three words, but still important to include).
Finally, a note from Ms. Brandt wraps up the school-report theme and cleverly includes a recommendation for further reading that is itself part of a series.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. ( )

This biography of Vincent van Gogh is written from the perspective of an elementary student writing a report. It has many of van Gogh's paintings as well as the child's drawings. It chronicles van Gogh's life and gives examples of his paintings from different periods. It is a good way to build recognition of his work. It also is a nice example of a written report using different media. ( )

This book was very fun to read and learn at the same time. Lots of pictures, and lots of learning from it. I believe kids would really enjoy the book for it's interesting facts and actual pictures of art. ( )