Thank you for joining me for Day 3 of the 365 Days of Children’s Books series!
I hope you are able to add a few new requests to your library account this week. Lazy summer days bring lots of time to read fresh books!
Today’s book, Michelangelo, is by Diane Stanley, one of my favorite authors of non-fiction children’s books. I first learned of her when my children and I used Tapestry of Grace. As a result, we have a library full of her wonderful works.
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Michelangelo
Book: Michelangelo
Author: Diane Stanley
Diane Stanley does a superb job of highlighting the many events of Michelangelo’s life – from his difficult childhood to his relationship with de’ Medici, to his sculpting of the famous David.
Michelangelo is a great example of how middle school students can use picture books in later years. We originally bought this book for my oldest boy when he was in the 2nd grade. While the content is certainly appropriate for a 2nd grader, this same child used this exact book this year in his 8th grade studies!
My son, now 14, needed just a brief overview and bullet points about Michelangelo’s life – a “forest” and not “trees” version, if you will.
After reading through this book, he was able to complete his assignment using the broad knowledge that Michelangelo offers.
Solid, classic picture books are never a bad investment for your own home library!
Learning Activities about Michelangelo
If you want to take this book a step further, use an idea or two from the list below.
→ Make a jointed paper doll of Michelangelo – These are definitely for middle to older elementary but WOW do they look fun!
→ Turn a small desk upside down and tape a piece of paper to it. Now, flip the table right side up and have your child lie underneath. Can he draw like Michelangelo? It’s not so easy!
→ Michelangelo lived during the Renaissance. Research the term Renaissance and its literal meaning. Why was this considered a time of rebirth? What types of discoveries were made? What other famous people lived during this time?
→ Browse through works of Michelangelo and commit a few of them to memory – Pieta, David, The Sistine Chapel ceiling
→ Try carving a bar of soap into a particular image using a plastic knife. Is it hard to do or is it easy? Are you able to create the image in your mind with your hands?
Browse through 365 Days of Children’s Books!
Day 2 of Children’s Books – The Blessing Cup
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