Berry Smudges and Leaf Prints: Finding and Making Colors from Nature (Dutton, 2001) is a 40-page book for children aged seven to eleven. Spreads that show children experiencing nature alternate with spreads depicting children creating their own artworks using materials gathered from nature. The book is an unusual combination of psychological information mixed with natural history and hands-on arts activities, all organized separately by color. Where else, all on the same spread, can you learn, for example: where to look for red in nature; why red fruit helps plants reproduce; that red is a color associated with excitement (not just because we think so but because scientists have measured certain changes in body chemistry when people look at red); and then use berries to create a picture, first considering how ancient people probably used berry stains to make some of the world's first art back in the days before paints and crayons.
The book is illustrated with nature photography, children in beautiful nature settings, and - on the arts and crafts pages - children actually doing the suggested projects.The book builds on children's sense of wonder about nature to stimulate integrated learning and thinking. It pulls together information from various sources and encourages readers to wonder more about what color is and how it affects all living creatures. Berry Smudges and Leaf Prints was selected as one of the best books of 2001 by School Library Journal.
Availability
hardcover: out of print; not available, except through sources for used books or new copies from stores that have not sold all their copies yet
paperback: in print and available through Scholastic Educational Titles Division (1.800.724.6527)