The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock

    The Noisy Paint Box is a picture book biography for early elementary aged children written by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary Grandpre about the life of abstract painter, Vasily Kandinsky. The story begins with young Kandinsky growing up in Russia. His aunt gifts him a paint box and he exclaims that the colors inside make him hear music!

(Rosenstock, 2014, p. 9-10)

    The book shows how Kandinsky grows older, and is dismissed by his parents about how he hears music in art. They push him to go to school to be a lawyer, but he cannot deny the beautiful images that flood his mind when he hears music and the music he hears when he paints. Rosenstock writes how Kandinsky gives up his law aspirations to study art. At first he follows his teacher’s suggestions to paint recognizable objects, but after talking to other artists, begins to pursue art in his own way.

(Rosenstock, 2014, p. 21-22)

    I thought this book was wonderful for showing how Kandinsky pursued his dreams to paint art. I think children should know that though they in general follow a path organized for them educationally, they should still listen to their dreams as they grow older. 

    The illustrations by artist Mary Grandpre (well known for doing the beautiful covers for the first editions of Harry Potter hardback books), really draw the reader in here. Kandinsky’s colors and shapes float through every page and are just eye candy on every page. 

(Rosenstock, 2014, p. 27-28)

    This book is a great introduction to Kandinsky for early elementary readers and would segway well into an art lesson on Kandinksy’s style, a biography project on an artist, or a study on different types of art.

More picture book biographies of artists:

• Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Rodriquez: American painter, Georgia O’Keefe’s art and life are introduced in this picture book biography for young readers. The book shows her struggle as a woman artist, uncommon during her time; an inspiration for young girls. (K+)

• Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe: A Caldecott medal winner and Corretta Scott King winner, this lusciously illustrated book explores the life and art of the 1980s graffiti artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat. (1st grade+)

• Henry’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter: Tells the life of Henry Matisse’s artistic journey from painter to collage artist. Young children may be inspired to cut and create their own work! (K+)

• A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jane Bryant: A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book and Winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, this biography about the life of African American artist, Horace Pippin shows Pippin’s beginnings with sketching with charcoal to his drawing and painting mixed media use as an adult. (1st grade+)

Fiction read-alikes:

• The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds: Young Vashti has no interest in art, sure they cannot ever make anything worth looking at. The art teacher encourages Vashti to start with a dot. In defiance, Vashti does just that and realizes they can do better. An encouraging book about trying and experimenting with art. (K+)

• Art & Max by Davied Weisner: Caldecott winning illustrator Weisner explores the accomplished artist and the novice in this charming picture book about desert lizards exploring different art mediums. (K+)

• Katie Meets the Impressionists by James Mayhew: On a visit to the museum, young Katie finds herself transported into 5 paintings done by different impressionist painters. (K+)

• Anywhere Artists by Nikki Slade Robinson: A young girl explores different ways to make art in nature. A great introduction to exploring your environment and using natural art materials. (Preschool +)

More by Barb Rosenstock:

• Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life and Art: Mary Grandpre’s illustrations accompany this text by Rosenstock to tell the story of artist, Marc Chagall. Like The Noisy Paint Box, the artist’s childhood is first shown followed by his later life as he explores what art means to him. (1st grade+)

• Dorothea’s Eyes: Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth: Shows the life of Dorothea Lange as she grows for a polio stricken child to a notable, artistic photographer. (3rd grade+)

• Vincent Can’t Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky: Another pairing with Mary Grandpre, this book is perfect for early elementary readers wishing to know more about the artist, Vincent Van Gosh. (1st grade+)

    Author Barbara Rosenstock’s website includes a page on The Noisy Paint Box with lesson plans, a read along video, educator guide, and interview. For more information on Vasily Kandinsky, check out MoMA’s artist biography or the Guggenheim’s page on the artist. Both have photographs of his work as well. The following resources may be of interest for educators to connect the text with art processes.

• Great Websites for Kids. (2020). The arts. American Library Association.

• Marguiles, E. (2020). Favorite children’s books about art. MoMA.

• Stephens, C. (2020). Cassie Stephens. 

• Stephenson, S. (2020). 4 websites where kids can create digital art. Scholastic.

• Tate Kids. (2020). Welcome to Tate Kids. 

• Wilson, A. (2020). 10 of the world’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours. The Guardian.

  

    The Noisy Paintbox is a 2015 Caldecott Honor Book, an Amazon Best Book of the Year for 2014, and an ILA Teacher’s Choice for 2014. Starred reviews for the book can be found at Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist.

References

Rosenstock, B. (2014). The noisy paint box: The colors and sounds of Kandinsky's abstract art. Knopf Books for Young Readers.