Today’s post is about a really great series of art books that I think would make an excellent addition to any classroom library. These little books, “Getting To Know The World’s Greatest Artists”, are written and illustrated by Mike Venezia. Apart from their availability (Amazon.com) and their great price ($6.95), each of these terrific little books presents a succinct focus on one artist in an informal, engaging, and highly informative way.
Whether teaching first grade or high school, I always kept a variety of these books in my classroom’s library. When I taught first grade I read these books to my students, and they loved hearing them over and over again. When “reading” on their own, my young students would consistently select these books to enjoy by themselves or with a reading buddy. My high school students perused these same books, and I believe they enjoyed and appreciated learning about the famous artists in a more “relaxed” way than they might otherwise have through a typical art history textbook.
One look through these books will win you over to Mr. Venezia’s engaging, conversational style. He makes the artists seem like people who might have lived in your town and perhaps even been a neighbor. Through words and pictures, he brings each artist to life by revealing them to be real people we all can relate to. People who accomplished great things — yes, but people who struggled and suffered through hardships as well. Reading these books is so engaging and is so much fun, kids of all ages might not realize how much they are actually learning!
If you’d like to receive one of these books by Mike Venezia, just leave a comment on this blog post. The first 10 people to leave me a comment by Friday, November 30, 2012, 5 p.m. (PST) will each get one free book from this series of “Getting To Know The World’s Greatest Artists” books. (Artist subject of the books will vary and cannot be specified by the recipient. One comment/entry per person, please.)
Giveaway Update: As of 11/14/12, I still have 4 books left to give away!
Art For Elementary Teachers 
Thank you for sharing your great blog and fantasy giveaway.
My kids and I would like to read this book.
My children and I would love to read this wonderful book.
I hope that my children learn something from this book.
Thank you for great sharing your blog and gorgeous giveaway.
Thank you for your comment! I’m thrilled to send you and your children one of these books — I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. I will email you shortly to get your mailing address.
This book seems like one of those fun to read books with comics inside! Looks like a great book!
Thanks for commenting, Jason! The little comics inside these books are super fun and provide interesting insights into the various artists. I’m sure you’re going to love it! I will email you shortly to get your mailing address.
Thank you Jill for sharing a valuable classroom resource. You know the cover didn’t grab my attention until I saw the characters on the side of the center picture. Then I immediately wanted to explore inside and I suspect students of all ages would have the same impression.
I think you’re absolutely right Howard. These books are certainly not “traditional” in their presentation, and I think that’s what makes them so appealing. They provide lots of unique and different ways to access the information. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Would love to add one of “Getting To Know The World’s Greatest Artists” books to our small library in the art room!
Thanks for the comment Marianne! I will email you shortly to get your physical mailing address.
I would love to add a book to our small library in the art room! Thanks for this giveaway!
Thank you for your comment! I will email you shortly to get your physical mailing address.
I love these books. But I only have one for my art classroom! I would love to have more. This is wonderful1
This is wonderful! 🙂
Thanks for the comment Amanda! They are pretty terrific little books, aren’t they? I will email you shortly to get your physical mailing address.
I am an art teacher at a k-2 school and my students love reading about artists! This would enhance my book center and I would definitely put it to good use!
Wonderful Caren! Thank you for the comment. I’d love to send you a book for your book center at school! I will email you shortly to get your physical email address.
I teach at a 6-8 Arts and Technology middle school. Our student artists would love these! 😀
Excellent! Thank you for your comment! I love to send you one to share with your student artists. I will email you shortly to get your physical mailing address.
I know I am too late for the free give away but I just wanted to tell you that I use Mr. Venzia’s books in my class and they are WONDERFUL. I read the book to my students via the document camera so they can all see the pictures nice and big on screen and then we do a art project based on the artist we read about. They are absolutely mesmerized when I am reading these books. Lots of great background information on the artist and his/her art. I just read the Picasso one to my 2nd and 3rd graders and we did a Picasso piece (Hand with Flowers). And I read Van Gogh to my 4th and 5ths and we did a Starry Night interpretation. Next up is Dali. Just got my Getting to Know… on Salvador. These books are great. Not to long, not too short on info and the fun cartoons keep their attention even longer. Even if you don’t win one here, all teachers should check these books out via Amazon. You can even get used copies too (my Dali was $3 used).
Hi Barbara! Thank you for the great endorsement of the books I’ve been giving away on my blog. They are terrific aren’t they? I love hearing about the ways you are using these books in class. What fun for the students! And the good news is that you’re NOT too late to participate in the book giveaway! I will email you to get your physical mailing address so that I can send you your book. Yay! Thanks again for commenting on this post. I hope you’ll check out my blog again, or maybe follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/ArtForElementaryTeachers Please keep me in mind should you have any professional development needs too. 🙂
What a great blog and book suggestion. I am a parent starting an ‘art cart’ for our elementary school who lost their art teacher due to budget cuts. Your ideas will help us as we put our program together. Thank you!
Well I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your art teacher due to budget cuts — an all to familiar tale I’m afraid. I’m very excited to hear that you’re putting together an “art cart” for the school — that’s fantastic! If I can be a resource for your program, then I’m thrilled and honored! I will email you shortly to get your physical mailing address so I can send you your free book! Thank you for reading my blog. 🙂