The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by Mary Grandpre

 

Title: The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art  

Author: Barb Rosenstock

Illustrated: Mary Grandpre

Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction

Major Award: 2015 Caldecott Honor

Ages: 4-8 Years old

Summary:

This story is about a Russian boy named Vasya Kadinsky, who in his days, spent his time learning how to be a proper Russian boy. Everything he had to learn, in order to be a proper Russian boy, seemed boring for him. One day, Vasya's aunt gave him a small wooden paint box, and this wooden paint box became the world to him. He would delight himself in his painting so much that he would hear music notes as Vasya would paint. When Vasya finished painting, he excitedly showed his art to his parents and to his aunt. It was there and then, when Vasya's parents decided to put Vasya into art classes. Vasya's art classes, however, only taught him how to paint flowers, people, and houses. When Vasya got older he became a lawyer, but there was something about art that kept calling back to him. So, Vasya quit being a lawyer, and decided to dedicate on painting. Vasya did not want to paint the ordinary arts though, such as flowers, people and houses. He wanted to create an art that would describe his feelings and be able to transmit that art to the people. In the end, he drew an extraordinary painting that left people wondering what it was and it gave them a unique type of feel. This art was called the abstract art. 

Book Evaluation:

1) I would recommend this book to my class because it gives the kids a lesson that being different is what makes everyone unique. If the Russian boy would have followed what everyone wanted him to be, he probably would have never discovered his talent and his love for art. 

2) I would use this book for the grade level Pre-Kinder to Third grade level.

3) I would use this book in the unit of Art class. I would have them paint a canvas that describes their mood for that day. I would put a soft instrumental music in the background for them, as they paint, so it can create a soothing environment for them.