Do you like art, mystery, and and figuring out complicated puzzles? Then you need to start reading Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game by Blue Balliett.
I fell in love with the first book, Chasing Vermeer, several years ago, was incredibly excited to read the second, and I finished the last in the series just today. The series involves these curious kids in Chicago (Hyde Park) that have incredible adventures involving art.
My favorite is The Wright 3. The book is focuses on a house in their neighborhood, but not just any house - a house designed by one of the most famous architects in Art History, Frank Lloyd Wright. I have been to the Robie House and really got swept away in the imagery of the struggle and excitement in the book. There is actually a Frank Lloyd Wright House that is similar to the Robie House in Grand Rapids, MI called the Meyer May house. You can visit both houses, as they are both open for tours and have been restored to show Wright's original intent with his design.
The final book, The Calder Game, major emphasis is on work by Alexander Calder (who also has a large public sculpture in Grand Rapids, MI - La Grande Vitesse located in Calder Plaza). This book is just as filled with mystery and art as the others, and even includes mention of Banksy - a street artist that we study in 8th grade.
I hope you will take the time to check out these books (and yes, there are pictures inside - beautiful illustrations by Brett Helquist). If you do read them, or check out sculptures/paintings by the artists in the book, or if you have your own summer reading suggestions, let me know with a post below.
I fell in love with the first book, Chasing Vermeer, several years ago, was incredibly excited to read the second, and I finished the last in the series just today. The series involves these curious kids in Chicago (Hyde Park) that have incredible adventures involving art.
My favorite is The Wright 3. The book is focuses on a house in their neighborhood, but not just any house - a house designed by one of the most famous architects in Art History, Frank Lloyd Wright. I have been to the Robie House and really got swept away in the imagery of the struggle and excitement in the book. There is actually a Frank Lloyd Wright House that is similar to the Robie House in Grand Rapids, MI called the Meyer May house. You can visit both houses, as they are both open for tours and have been restored to show Wright's original intent with his design.
The final book, The Calder Game, major emphasis is on work by Alexander Calder (who also has a large public sculpture in Grand Rapids, MI - La Grande Vitesse located in Calder Plaza). This book is just as filled with mystery and art as the others, and even includes mention of Banksy - a street artist that we study in 8th grade.
I hope you will take the time to check out these books (and yes, there are pictures inside - beautiful illustrations by Brett Helquist). If you do read them, or check out sculptures/paintings by the artists in the book, or if you have your own summer reading suggestions, let me know with a post below.
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