O Beautiful for Spacious Skies - Hardcover

Gr. 5-8. Sara Jane Boyer, the book's editor, begins with an introduction that states the aims of this attractive yet esoteric illustrated version of America's unofficial anthem: "Think of this book as a conversation that you and I and the artist and poet each have with one another . . . And the next time you see a painting, a drawing, or a photograph, think of what words you might want to pair with it." Boyer has chosen to match the words of "America the Beautiful" with the contemporary paintings of Thiebaud. His art for this book has elements of both the abstract expressionist movement and the works of Edward Hopper, and it takes a free-floating, occasionally whimsical approach to the poem's verse. There are impressive landscapes, but then the line "O beautiful for Pilgrim feet" is illustrated by a full-page picture of ladies' high heels facing a page showing one pair of men's black wingtips. This book will be most interesting as an imaginative exercise and most useful for art and writing classes; its audience will be special yet appreciative. Ilene Cooper

Grade 1 Up?A pairing of contemporary art with evocative poetry. Bates was an early feminist whose great love of this country was the inspiration for this optimistic ballad written before the Great Depression and the World Wars. Thiebaud's paintings "chronicle those objects and landscapes of our lives that are overlooked and taken for granted, but whose style and manner are telltale signs of who we are." He is a seasoned artist with works in many major galleries in the U.S. Boyers includes well-written, insightful biographies of the poet and the artist at the end of the book. While this is an interesting artistic concept and serves as a showcase for some great modern art, the sequencing of visual material is more akin to the hanging of an exhibit than the intentional flow of images from page to page. Though a bit jarring, it is also refreshing, and offers an interesting choice for larger collections.?Alexandra Marris, Rochester Public Library, NY
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