Great Art in 30 Seconds: 30 Awesome Art Topics for Curious Kids

Gr 5 Up—This compact and precise history presents mostly Eurocentric art movements in small doses and is meant to be read quickly and revisited often. Thirty topics ranging from centuries ago to contemporary times are divided into browsable chapter headings of "Early Art," "Renaissance to Rococo," "Neoclassicism to Post-Impressionism," "Modern Art," and "Contemporary Art." The text offers an understanding of the practitioners, the characteristics of the artwork, and the time and place it was generally practiced. The main points are summarized in an illustration, but the "3-second sum-up," included at the bottom of a page, is almost too vague to be useful to unfamiliar readers. Art projects, called a "3-minute mission," are also included. The book may be best approached one artistic style or chapter heading at a time or perused all at once. The abundant illustrations are colorful and cartoony in contrast to the smaller photographic examples of the actual art works from the time periods.