Book Descriptions
for A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Horace Pippin loved to draw when he was a child, using whatever materials he had at hand. Once he started work as a young teen to help support his family he still drew whenever he could. Then Horace went off to fight in World War I and was injured. No longer able to lift the arm with which he drew, he used one hand to hold the other up and began creating scenes burned in wood, and then continued painting. His subjects were the images that filled his mind-of times of war, of scenes from daily life, of stories from the Bible, of meaningful moments in history. Jen Bryant's lovely narrative tribute to the self-taught African American painter embraces Horace's humility and grace. Illustrator Melissa Sweet's thoughtfully composed, often moving mixed-media illustrations draw inspiration directly from Pippin's palette, as well as details from his life, and words that he spoke: Quotes from Horace Pippin are incorporated into the art. A historical note provides a photograph of Pippin and more information about his life and work. The picture book biography concludes with notes on the author's and illustrator's research, source notes, and ample resources for further inquiry. (Small reproductions of several of Pippin's paintings appear on the back endpapers.) (Ages 5-9)
CCBC Choices 2014. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2014. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award
An ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book
Winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
As a child in the late 1800s, Horace Pippin loved to draw: He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something in the room and making it come alive again in front of him. He drew pictures for his sisters, his classmates, his co-workers. Even during W.W.I, Horace filled his notebooks with drawings from the trenches . . . until he was shot. Upon his return home, Horace couldn't lift his right arm, and couldn't make any art. Slowly, with lots of practice, he regained use of his arm, until once again, he was able to paint--and paint, and paint! Soon, people—including the famous painter N. C. Wyeth—started noticing Horace's art, and before long, his paintings were displayed in galleries and museums across the country.
Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet team up once again to share this inspiring story of a self-taught painter from humble beginnings who despite many obstacles, was ultimately able to do what he loved, and be recognized for who he was: an artist.
Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award
An ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book
Winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
As a child in the late 1800s, Horace Pippin loved to draw: He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something in the room and making it come alive again in front of him. He drew pictures for his sisters, his classmates, his co-workers. Even during W.W.I, Horace filled his notebooks with drawings from the trenches . . . until he was shot. Upon his return home, Horace couldn't lift his right arm, and couldn't make any art. Slowly, with lots of practice, he regained use of his arm, until once again, he was able to paint--and paint, and paint! Soon, people—including the famous painter N. C. Wyeth—started noticing Horace's art, and before long, his paintings were displayed in galleries and museums across the country.
Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet team up once again to share this inspiring story of a self-taught painter from humble beginnings who despite many obstacles, was ultimately able to do what he loved, and be recognized for who he was: an artist.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
