Bob the Artist

by Marion Deuchars

Overview

Bob the bird is just like all his friends, apart from his skinny legs. When Bob is teased, he decides to try and change himself to fit in. But little does he know where all his efforts will lead him...

An affirming picture book for age 3+ about the power of art and of being confident enough to be yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780677675
Publisher:	Laurence King Publishing
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,070,719
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Author of the best-selling Let's Make Some Great Art series, Marion Deuchars is an award-winning illustrator with a globally recognisable style. Her influential hand-lettering and illustrations have been used on advertising campaigns from Samsung and HP to posters for Formula 1 and stamps for The Royal Mail. Her books have won six international awards for design/illustration and she is one of six designers to represent the UK at Helsinki's World Design Capital celebrations.

Editorial Reviews

This beautifully produced book about a black bird named Bob does several things at once—all of them well. First and foremost, it's a dazzling example of picture book illustration, with bold graphic design along with a clear sense of what children (but really anyone) will enjoy looking at. The story, too, is solidly built and charming…There is a lesson to be gleaned here—actually more than one—but readers may be so absorbed in the book's visual delights that they won't even realize they've just finished both an anti-bullying book and a quick lesson in modern art.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

04/25/2016
Deuchars, creator of the Let's Make Some Great Art series, segues into picture books with a story about a bird named Bob who is feeling insecure in the face of unexpected criticism. Despite what the title might suggest, the critiques Bob endures are about his physique. "Eeeek! Look at those skinny legs," comments a cat, whose body and head are made from enlarged thumbprints. "Oooh! Look at that funny stick walk," adds an owl outlined in red, as Bob's confident stride turns into a trudge. Bob tries to exercise and eat his way toward beefier gams, but it's a trip to the museum (where a wall of paintings offers visual nods to Calder, Mondrian, and other artists) that provides the right kind of encouragement. "Bob was inspired!" writes Deuchars as bright shapes à la Matisse cutouts explode around Bob, who takes to painting his beak in various patterns—to rave reviews. Loose, inky brushstrokes and hand-lettered text add to the stylish presentation, and the message about taking criticism with a grain of salt, whether personal or artistic, lands with a light touch. Ages 3–5. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Loose, inky brushstrokes and hand-lettered text add to "Loose, inky brushstrokes and hand-lettered text add to the stylish presentation, and the message about taking criticism with a grain of salt, whether personal or artistic, lands with a light touch."-Publishers Weekly

"A humorous and appealing look at difference and acceptance, with an artistic bent and an empowering message about standing out in a crowd."—School Library Journal

"Striking art adds levity to the book's anti-bullying message."-Kirkus Reviews

"A dazzling example of picture book illustration."-The New York Times

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
K-Gr 2—Bob the bird is often optimistic, but when the other animals and birds start making fun of him for his very skinny legs, he feels very sad. He then tries to change his appearance through a variety of means, first by exercising, then by eating to bulk up, and finally by trying to hide his legs under clothing. None of these approaches seem to work, so he starts painting his beak in various artistic styles, which wins the approval of the other animals. In the end, Bob likes his legs, while the other animals no longer notice their size. Deuchars's illustrations are simple yet expressive; her minimal use of colors makes her protagonist stand out against the usual white backdrop and uncluttered color scheme. VERDICT A humorous and appealing look at difference and acceptance, with an artistic bent and an empowering message about standing out in a crowd.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2016-05-04
Teasing brings out a bird's inner artist.Bob is a black, crowlike bird with a red beak and very long, skinny legs. He becomes self-conscious about his legs when he goes out for a walk and is teased by onlookers. "Eeeek! Look at those skinny legs!" comments Cat. "Oooh! Look at that funny stick walk," says Owl. "Oh! How puny your legs are!" remark a crowd of other birds, identical to Bob except with fatter legs. Bob goes to great lengths to increase the diameter of his legs. He works out at the gym, eats a pile of sausages at the restaurant, and attempts to find clothing to camouflage his legs. Inspiration comes at the art museum, where he sees many different textures and patterns in the paintings on the walls. In a Matisse-style eureka moment, Bob realizes that by painting his beak in a multitude of art-inspired designs, he can gain public admiration for his beautiful beak, and his legs will no longer be the focus of attention. Each day he paints his beak in the style of a different artist or just with abstract bright patterns. He garners admiring comments from his previous critics, and now no one notices his legs. British artist Deuchars' expressive hand-lettering and bold, splashy ink-and-watercolor art stand out against minimalist backgrounds; such quirky details as a cat created with thumbprints charm. Unfortunately, aside from Matisse and Pollock, the inspirational sources for Bob's designs are not named.Striking art adds levity to the book's anti-bullying message. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews