How to Talk to Children About World Art

For anyone who wants their children to understand and love the art of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, this guide has questions and answers about thirty amazing objects. Anticipating how children will react to artifacts ranging from a Congolese mask or a Sioux warrior's tunic to a Javanese puppet or an Easter Island Moai, each section begins with very simple observations — 'This face doesn't look very African!' — and moves on to more complex questions such as 'What do the decorations on the forehead and temples represent?', 'Does white mean something special in Africa?'. Written in everyday language for people with no art expertise or teaching experience, the book includes maps, colour coding and thumbnail images to help you see where each featured work of art comes from. The explanations also include guidance on what's most appropriate for what age, from four to fourteen. There are invaluable tips for planning a visit to a museum and a thorough discussion of modern western perceptions of world art and the tricky terminology associated with the subject.