The Artsy Smartsy Club - Hardcover

Grade 4-6–When Nick, Loretta Fischetti, Bruno Ugg, and Henrietta–Nick's 6-foot-tall, 266-pound chicken–go looking for excitement, they trip over some fascinating and mysterious sidewalk art. Thus begins the makings for adventure ending the kids' boring stretch of summer vacation in Hoboken, NJ. When decorated pavement reproductions of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" turn up, then give way to chalk portraits of Henrietta, the four companions go in search of the sidewalk screever, Lucy Casserole, who awakens their wellspring of collective talents. Then, it's off to New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art with Henrietta, disguised as a nun, as the responsible adult. This clever book has just the right ingredients to make it a hit with kids: fanciful fiction plunked into the middle of madcap reality. The cheeky wordplay lends itself to read-alouds, and the black-and-white drawings contribute even more pizzazz to the action. The book offers a natural springboard into discussions on Van Gogh, art appreciation, and the idiosyncrasies that afflict brilliance. Some of the tongue-in-cheek political jabs will fly over the heads of young readers, but silly appearances by Meehan the Bum; local Dee Jay, Vic Trola; intellectual Hilangully Ryder; and other oddball charcters will have students laughing out loud and begging for more.–Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY
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