Art & Max

David Wiesner is one of only two people to win the prestigious Caldicott Medal on three ocassions, for  Tuesday  (1992),  The Three Pigs  (2002) and  Flotsam  (2007). In his first book since Flotsam, Wiesner wanted to try something different and his exploration into various media led him to write & illustrate a story about the creative process itself.Set in the desert, Art & Max is the story of two lizards; one, Arthur (Art), is an artist, the second, Max, admires Art and hopes to be an artist as well. When he shows up, brushes and canvas in hand as Art is working on a portrait and claims that he can paint, too, Arthur's first reaction is a dismissive "Don't be ridiculous!" Upon seeing Max's crestfallen reaction to his words, though, Art relents and invites Max to set up his easel but instructs him to stay out of his way. When Max is stuck for a subject and Art rather grandly suggests that Max paint him, Max takes him at his word. Chaos, as they say, ensues.While I loved the artwork - the muted desert tones and simplicity of the backgrounds, the expressive faces, the melting watercolors - I simply don't have the knowledge of art to analyze Wiesner's work in Art & Max in depth. So I'll leave that commentary to others with more expertise and instead go a different route, sharing the messages I took from the book as a whole.1. Hold fast to enthusiasm and never, ever lose your grip.2. Never stop learning.3. Be willing to experiment.4. Look at the world with curious eyes.5. Breaking out of the box can be exhilarating.6. While a master may be a source of inspiration to his/her students, the master can also gain inspiration FROM the student.7. Even as our outer appearance changes, we are still, at the core, much the same person.8. Though not a message, I also learned that Acme delivers to desert-dwelling animals that are not coyotes. Who knew?After spending some time with Art & Max today, I re-read Wiesner's other books. I'm going to have to admit that I still prefer Flotsam and (my personal favorite)  Free Fall , but I loved the messages I took from Art & Max. My admiration for and appreciation of Wiesner's talent continues to grow.Happily recommended.

David Wiesner's books are fabulously enjoyable. They are wacky, beautifully illustrated, fun stories that adults will enjoy just as much as the kids. I've bought several of his books, and I don't have anyone to read them to. This author/illustrator has a wonky, wild, strange, imaginative mind, and the results are wacky, wonky, wild, strange, and imaginative stories!

Art & Max is a very good picture book. For some, it will be a dull story with good pictures. For others, a fun story with awesome pictures. It certainly contains a second, more thought provoking story in the background.I enjoyed the book a great deal, but I worried kids would be disinterested; I appear to be wrong. The first-grader's I've worked with loved it; best of all for different reasons. Some loved the exuberance of Max; some the outburst and withering of Arthur. Some even looked beyond the main narrative and followed the silent stories of the other three lizards. There were a few kids who did not care for it; expressive reading can cure much of this.This book lacks the grandeur of some of Wiesner's other works, such as Flotsam, Sector 7 or my personal favorite June 29th, 1999. Its setting is sparse, with just 5 characters (2 speaking) and (excellent) desert landscape the background. This is not a bad thing, just a different feel that takes some getting used to. Those who are used to Wiesner's work will appreciate Art & Max after a few reads. Those who are new should have no problem at all jumping into the story.This is a great book that will remain in my library and on my suggestion list for children. Every time I feel I've dissected the book, I discover some new twist in the artwork or storytelling that prompts me to reread again. I do not believe the story will be enjoyed by everyone, but there is so much quality to find for those who do enjoy it.

Great book! We bought a model horned lizard to go with it as a themed gift.

When my grand-daughter was born 4 years ago, Jan. 5, I vowed to give her a magnificent library of at least 50 books she would want to go back to again and again by the time she could read fluently (which tends to be 4 years old in our family).Well, I had reached the 50 book mark well before schedule, but the grand-daughter has turned out to be something of an artist. So when I saw the David Wiesner book, ART & MAX (she already has almost all of the Wiesner books), I couldn't pass it up!She loves it. It is wonderfully illustrated, and brings the characters to life in a way that only David Wiesner can do, and only children, with their unfettered imaginations, can appreciate fully.Wiesner's books are fabulous. Every child ought to have these books, as well as some others I would recommend. They set a child's imagination soaring, while they teach the valuable lesson of reading and reasoning and being kind.

My 9 year old son read this book in school and so when I brought it home he had already read it. That did not stop him from being very excited about the book and both he and his younger sister enjoyed reading it themselves. It is the kind of book that a young child would enjoy as the illustrations are very good and there are not a great deal of words. However, older children still enjoy (at least my son does) the humor and story, and of course the illustrations. I would give it 5 stars, but another book by this author is even better, so I would differentiate by giving it 4 stars.

Nice illustrations. This book was a big hit - was a gift to 2 people who raise big lizards and they loved it!

This book has brought us many smiles during story time. It has very few words but I add sound effects. Gorgeous pictures and enjoyable story. The author has many unusual and beautiful books.

As a teacher, having seen some wonderful artwork in another Kids' book illustrated by the same author, I was intrigued by reviews of this one).However, there was not really anything that I could see outstanding in either the plot or the artwork here to merit the high prices for the book. It was an average kids' book without much of a plot. Decent but not exceptional artwork here.

I love this book and so does my 3 years old son. He will ask me to repeat it many times during the bedtime story time. He didn't quite get the idea at first but he seems to enjoy the colours and he likes lizards too! After a few reads, he will giggle when Max has assembled the 'wrong' Art, he simply loves it.

A great colourful book for all ages, I still love certain books from when I was a kid (which are more for kids not adults) and certain books you never grow out of and this will be one of them.

David Weisner produces books which stimulate discussion. They are sophisticated enough to get even the most reluctant top primary reader to engage in the story. Another stroke of genius from Mr. Weisner!

what a great book. it is very well Illustrated and as I'm an art teacher I showed it to pupils and other arty staff and although it is aimed at primary pupils everyone enjoyed it and I would recommend it for any age group It certainly brought a smile to all that have read it