The Artist

by Ed Vere

Overview

USA TODAY BESTSELLER! A brave little artist goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world in this picture book from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Ed Vere. It's an inspiring exploration of the creative spirit, perfect for fans of What Do You Do with an Idea? and The Dot.

Creative young children will see themselves and the world around them in a fresh light in this charming story about an artistic soul. Through setbacks and triumphs, our young hero adds color and life to a drab gray city, bringing beauty to those who live there. It's a journey that reminds us that it's okay to color outside the lines: Art is full of heart!

The Artist is a perfect gift for creative kids, graduates, or anyone setting out on a new path, encouraging them to face life’s obstacles with a positive outlook.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525580881
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	04/04/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.63(w) x 11.31(h) x 0.41(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

ED VERE is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books, including How to Be a Lion, The Artist, The Elephant and the Sea, and the New York Times bestseller Max the Brave. He lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

02/06/2023

While many can be too busy to notice the wonders around them, “Artists try to see it all,” proclaims Vere (Max the Brave) in this book-length answer to the question “What is an artist?” The title’s budding creator protagonist, a little Godzilla-esque dinosaur covered in radiant rainbow splotches, is determined to “share her pictures with the world.” She heads for the big city—pluckily sailing across a daunting ocean rendered in deep blue brushstrokes and tangles of black lines—and, much to the delight of the metropolis’s inhabitants, begins covering buildings with murals that make “busy people,/ going places,/ slow down/ and look.” A crisis of confidence ensues when she makes what feels like a very public mistake—coloring outside the lines. But with her fans cheering her on (“Mistakes are how you learn!” a child tells her), the artist not only recovers but is newly emboldened: “Wild and free,/ her colors fly.” Accompanying earnest narration are empathically inked and colored illustrations whose format nods to an artist’s notebook—some images seem to be held in place with brown drafting tape. Even if readers don’t need encouragement to unleash their own talents, they should be intrigued by this protagonist’s arc toward artistic assurance. Ages 3–7. Agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

A New York Post Best Book to Give for Christmas

★ "Colorful, boldly imaginative, dynamic, quirky, and wonderfully child-appealing illustrations. . . . This book proclaims what children already know: Creativity and making art spark joy."—Kirkus, starred review

"Realizing that making mistakes is part of the process could be a game-changer for the many kids who can't conquer their discouragement when their art falls short of their expectations."—Booklist

"Even if readers don’t need encouragement to unleash their own talents, they should be intrigued by this protagonist’s arc toward artistic assurance.”—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

★ 2023-01-12
An adult artist celebrates child artists.

A multicolored creature—a dragon or perhaps a dinosaur—creatively ablaze, enlivens a city with her art. As third-person narrator, author/illustrator Vere speaks for child artists who may not be able to articulate what it’s like to create. He also helps child artists understand, appreciate, and validate themselves. He gets kid artists and their imperative to create, and he draws like them, too: Check out the colorful, boldly imaginative, dynamic, quirky, and wonderfully child-appealing illustrations herein. Bonus: Vere also speaks to parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians who will share this volume with kids to offer perspective on and to help them respect and accept child artists and value their creative processes and masterpieces. If this seems philosophical and lofty, the soothing text and lively art will change minds. Kids will note illustrations they could have produced—and that’s the point. Plus, they’ll love that the protagonist makes a very common childhood artistic faux pas: She colors outside the lines! But, narrator Vere assures his artist-hero: “Mistakes are how you learn! Heart is what matters. And your art is full of heart….Please paint again!” His final encouragement for all child artists: “Keep seeing the beauty…keep going!” Understanding adults know children need such incentives to continue creating, to keep imaginations buzzing, and to use whatever media they desire to portray the world as they see it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This book proclaims what children already know: Creativity and making art spark joy. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews