1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Diane Stanley takes us into the fascinating world of Leonardo da Vinci. More than simply a painter, da Vinci's world should be fascinating to young readers as Stanley walks us through his inventions and forward-thinking ideas.
Throughout this book, we get more than just a rote biography; we are exposed to the culture of the day and the history behind it. The illustrations are beautiful, as well as the reproductions. Students will be interested in the fact that da Vinci wrote from right to left and painted in an odd way as well. The back cover reveals his secret!
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
I've got to admit, biographies don't really interest me unless there is drama, suspense, or lurid tidbits. My taste runs toward JFK or Teddy Roosevelt. da Vinci would not be my first pick.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Definitely written for older readers, Stanley gives us background and details with prose that captures attention. da Vinci's life does have drama and suspense, yet most works are so dry, I never get to that point. Stanley grabs us from the beginning with a glimpse into the not-so-perfect birth of Leonardo. As I read it, I thought to myself, "Now THIS is something my kids can relate with".
Stanley knows her audience and breathes life into her work. She makes sure she includes, as mentioned above, an out-of-wedlock birth, gore (Leonardo's dissected corpses decomposing too fast), self-closing toliet lids, and helicopters. Every boy's fantasy!
A major author in biographies, Diane Stanley stays true to the form of what is good in biographies...tells historical facts in a story form, lots of colorful pictures, fairly short, and makes da Vinci more human by not brushing over the "darker" side of his life.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review from ALA BOOKLIST: "This is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo."
* Starred review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci's notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley's own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci's masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work."
5. CONNECTIONS
*There is a wonderful website called "Welcome to Exploring Leonardo". There are links that look at his workshop, his perspective, from left to right, etc. What a great place for a class to explore and have a hands on approach. The site can be found at: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/
*We have a great book in the elementary library by Jean Fritz called LEONARDO'S HORSE. It has quite a bit of the same biographical information
included by Diane Stanley. The pictures are more "childlike" and midway through the book focuses more on the 24 foot high horse da Vinci made from clay that was destroyed by the French. This book is a great companion to Stanley's book.
Fritz, Jean. 2001. LEONARDO'S HORSE. Ill. by Hudson Talbott. New York, NY. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN: 0399235760
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