Kids’ Korner

International Children’s Museum Exhibitions

The World Awareness Children’s Museum, located in Glens Falls, NY, has a goal to inspire curiosity and foster understanding and appreciation of worldwide cultural diversity.  Go! where children discover the world is their interactive exhibition space at 89 Warren St.  They offer educator-led tours for groups, off-site interactive educational programming and outreach, the International Youth Art Exchange Program with its extensive collection of international children’s art, authentic cultural artifacts and education objects, plus an extensive library of exhibitions for loan.  In the exhibit World Winter Traditions, through Dec. 31, you can view stunning youth artwork depicting winter scenes and holiday traditions from around the world; and in Chinese New Year, opening Jan. 4 – March 4, Chinese New Year celebrations are depicted in colorful pieces by young artists from Asia and the U.S.  518.793.2773.  View their calendar of events at http://www.worldchildrensmuseum.org/Pages/calendar.html.

Best Illustrated Books

This marks the 59^th anniversary of the annual New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books, where the Book Review asks a panel of judges to choose 10 winners from among the thousands of children’s books published during the calendar year.  The ten favorites for 2011 include (title/author/illustrator or both in italic/publisher/age group):

—Migrant, Maxine Trottier, Isabelle Arsenault, Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 4-7.

—A Nation’s Hope-The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, Matt de la Peña, Kadir Nelson,
      Dial, 4-8.

—Ice, Arthur Geisert, Enchanted Lion Books, 4-7.

—A Ball for Daisy, Chris Raschka, Schwartz & Wade Books, 3-7.

—Along a Long Road, Frank Viva; Little, Brown & Company, 3-6.

—I Want my Hat Back, Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press, 4-8.

—Me…Jane, Patrick McDonnell; Little, Brown & Company, 3-6.

—Grandpa Green, Lane Smith, Roaring Brook Press, 5-9.

—Brother Sun, Sister Moon-Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, Katherine
      Paterson, Pamela Dalton, Handprint Books/Chronicle Books, 4-8.

—A New Year’s Reunion, Yu Li-Qiong, Zhu Cheng-Liang, Candlewick Press, 4-8.

You may perhaps consider these books for holiday gifts.

Undersea Exhibition/Workshop Series

MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA, is featuring Under the Sea in Kidspace through May 28.  Featured are six internationally acclaimed artists who explore the ocean as habitat, myth and a necessary element of life on earth.  Through various themes and innovative materials, the artists examine the mystery and power of the ocean as well as the catastrophic consequences of our abuse of this natural resource. Also, the Kids at Work! Workshop Series this month will include fabulous hands-on art workshops led by four creative kids and their MoCA staff parents on Dec. 17, 28, 29 and 30.  Call or visit the website for more information.  413.664.4481, X8131.  http://kidspace.massmoca.org

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 22, No. 2 — December 2011