What a Masterpiece!

This wordless fantasy stars a boy who travels through one famous art and design masterpiece after another. For those in the know, the fun comes from being able to identify the works of art as the boy encounters them, from the time he wakes up in a familiar-looking bedroom (hint: it’s in Arles) to the moment he puts his hands to his mouth in a horrified scream. Silkscreen-like artwork unifies disparate works with a palette of warm shades; sometimes a single spread visually quotes several iconic pieces. Guasco shows the boy waking to a selection of melted alarm clocks, then trailing into the bathroom followed by a tall, thin shadow shaped like a Giacometti sculpture. Botticelli, Mondrian, and even Banksy make appearances (so do design objects from Starck and Bialetti) as the child journeys through the art to leave his mark on a giant collaborative sculpture. Because the narrative of this composite introduction to Western art is so simple—the boy walks from left to right—small children can leaf through the pages with enjoyment even if they can’t identify the references. And a key in the back provides answers for the perplexed or uninitiated. Ages 5–9. [em](Apr.) [/em]