As a short departure from my usual stories, I will be putting up reviews of kids' books that I think are entertaining for adults and kids as well as educational. If you're not interested or don't have kids, don't worry, I will be back to my typical posts next time. But for those with your own kids or have kids in your family, I think you will find these books very entertaining.
FYI-I didn't receive any compensation for this book review. I personally stumbled upon this book and think that it is something parents as well as kids will find entertaining as well as being educational.
I recently found this book in the Musée du Louvre Kids' book shop. If you have ever been to the Louvre you may have noticed a whole book shop for kids with costumes and an English section. And don't worry I wasn't the only adult sans kids in here!
The book, My Little Louvre is from Réunion des Musées Nationaux Publishers and for children about 5-8 years old. It is a great introduction to the museum's most famous pieces and with funny descriptions that are actually fun for adults too. An idea I had is, before you visit the Louvre (or any museum with a similar book) go to the book shop first, get a descriptive kids' book, then go around the museum and ask your kid to spot the pieces, then read the kids' description while looking at the piece. This may help kids understand the work and learn to love museums at an early age.
My favorite piece in the Louvre is the Winged Victory of Samothrace from the 2nd century B.C. I just love the movement in the legs and the see-though veil she is wearing that makes you feel like you can feel the wind blowing.
Kids will like the description's humorous approach, "there is…a bird women. I have wings like a bird but I lost my head and arms…in the Louvre, they put me at the top of the stairs where I sometimes get bored".
I don't think you can find this book outside of France but you can order it from the Boutique de Musée and have it shipped or from Amazon.com
©2010 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved
