Art Is Everywhere: A Book about Andy Warhol

In this archly appreciative picture book biography, Mack channels Andy Warhol's (1928-1987) aggressively vapid, relentlessly enthusiastic voice: "Oh, hello. I'm Andy. This is the story of my art. I hope you like it." The subject narrates his career from his beginnings in commercial art, drawing so many shoes that "I felt like a robot in a factory. It was SO cool," to his pop art breakthrough: "I drew this. Isn't it pretty? It's soup. Do you like soup? We all like soup." As Warhol's practice expands into silk screens, film, music, magazines, and television, Mack weaves in iconic details--Warhol's penchant for wigs, collaboration, and mother--and sums up his worldview: "I think art is about liking things. It's about seeing the things around us in a new way. Seeing them as pretty. EVERYTHING is pretty. Don't you think?" Brushy artwork, benday-dot texture, and bright blotched color offer an age-appropriate taste of the Factory. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--This illustrated biography will engage readers with its conversational, first-person narration about what inspired Warhol's artistry and what art can be. A drawn figure of Warhol, who ages as the book progresses, speaks directly to his audience as he prompts them with questions about the nature of art, noting how personal enjoyment of everyday things matters and fame is a disputed factor. Though the term Pop Art and its associated art techniques are not specifically named until the end note, the core concepts defining this movement are presented in the form of illustrated representations of Warhol's creations, as well as repeated words, portrait frames, and pictorial sequences that reflect his attention to pop culture and advertising. With relatable words, such as how anything can be "pretty" and "cool," the narrative builds a simple, unexplored but noticeable cycle about the critical opposition Warhol faced about his artwork and how he challenged relationships among fame, art media, and perceptions of art. Deliberate use of black-outlined forms, bold colors, and scattered elements showcase the visual effects of collage and screen printing. Mack's illustrations coordinate with his depictions of Warhol's most renowned works and distinct use of different art media. VERDICT Ideal for the art classroom and in-class discussion, this friendly introduction to Warhol's artistic inspirations, loosely framed around a biographical narrative, will spark curiosity in early elementary listeners as they brush through big questions about art and fame.--Rachel Mulligan, Westampton, NJ

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

As Warhol's practice expands into silk screens, film, music, magazines, and television, Mack weaves in iconic details—Warhol's penchant for wigs, collaboration, and mother—and sums up his worldview: "I think art is about liking things. It's about seeing the things around us in a new way. Seeing them as pretty. EVERYTHING is pretty. Don't you think?" —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

This illustrated biography will engage readers with its conversational, first-person narration about what inspired Warhol's artistry and what art can be. . .Ideal for the art classroom and in-class discussion, this friendly introduction to Warhol's artistic inspirations, loosely framed around a biographical narrative, will spark curiosity in early elementary listeners as they brush through big questions about art and fame. —School Library Journal