Art is in the eye of the beholder. I remember hearing this when I was young and finally, someone explained this simple, complex statement to me. It has stuck with me ever since because it says so much with such few words. These are the words that came to mind when I read this book. Everyone makes art in their own way. A baby can make art and so can a senior citizen. It’s in its interpretation, that we label things art.
As Pine Martin watches the Human inside and outside its log nest in the woods, doing odd things, Pine Marten tries to find the meaning behind them. I enjoyed Pine Marten’s view of the human world: “plucking the string-log to make noise” and “using mud to make a water holder” to refer to the playing of a guitar and to using a clay pottery wheel. It was a refreshing way to look upon the world that we live in. When he watches the Human “putting colors on a board using a furry stick,” he’s confused.
Chickadee explains what he has heard the Human is doing and how it refers to Art and he explains what he thinks Art is. Soon, a variety of animals arrive one-by-one to give their own opinion of what Art is and how it relates to the Human’s activity. I thought this was clever and I liked how the house cat got in on the action and tried to outsmart them all. I said tried……. Is the Human the only one who can create Art?
The illustrations are beautiful and creative a peaceful feeling to the book. There are many interesting ideas that come out of this book and ways that you can engage children using this book. I think this book is good for children beginning around 6 years of age based on the concept, content, and language. I really enjoyed it.
One Chapter 