Brush of the Gods

Lenore Look ∙ Illustrated by Meilo So

Hardcover

Published on Jun 25, 2013 | 40 Pages

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Ebook

Published on Jun 25, 2013 | 40 Pages

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Grades Preschool – 3
Ages 4–8

This gorgeous picture book biography, according to Kirkus Reviews in a starred review, is "a cheerful introduction not only to Wu Daozi, but to the power of inspiration."

Who wants to learn calligraphy when your brush is meant for so much more? Wu Daozi (689-758), known as China’s greatest painter and alive during the T’ang Dynasty, is the subject of this stunning picture book. When an old monk attempts to teach young Daozi about the ancient art of calligraphy, his brush doesn’t want to cooperate. Instead of characters, Daozi’s brush drips dancing peonies and flying Buddhas! Soon others are admiring his unbelievable creations on walls around the city, and one day his art comes to life! Little has been written about Daozi, but Look and So masterfully introduce the artist to children.

Award Winner

Starred Review, Booklist, May 15, 2013:
"The richly colored artwork is stunning in both its scope and particulars...and the words are equally well chosen. This combination of talents happily never forgets its audience in an offering as child appealing and whimsical as it is handsome."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, May 1, 2013:
“A cheerful introduction not only to Wu Daozi, but to the power of inspiration.”

Starred Review, School Library Journal, May 1, 2013:
“Inviting and appealing, this title serves as a great addition to a unit on ancient China or Chinese Art.”

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, April 15, 2013:
"A fine biographical tribute to the enchanting power of art."

ISBN 9780375870019 (Hardcover)
Published on Jun 25, 2013
Published by Anne Schwartz Books
Pages 40
Dimensions 9 x 11
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 580L

ISBN 9780375987199 (Ebook)
Published on Jun 25, 2013
Published by Anne Schwartz Books
Pages 40
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Lexile: 580L

Lenore Look

Lenore Look first discovered a love of writing when she was a young child, creating, packaging, and distributing her own picture books. After a career in journalism, she went on to write many children’s books, including Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things and Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters.

Meilo So

Meilo So has illustrated several award-winning books, including Tasty Baby Belly Buttons, by Judy Sierra; It’s Simple, Said Simon, by Mary Ann Hoberman; The Ugly Duckling, retold by Kevin Crossley-Holland; and Countdown to Spring!, by Janet Schulman. Meilo So was born in Hong Kong and lives in England with her
husband and daughter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have always made narrative into pictures . . .

I have been drawing from about the time I was five years old. My grandfather had a mannequin shop; I used to watch him painting eyes and lips on the models. I have always made narrative into pictures. My first children’s book was published in Hong Kong in 1987. I wrote the story; it was about a naughty angel with three black spots on her
face. It was semi-autobiographical.

I try to keep my life simple and I choose a simple, light-weight medium . . .

I enjoy using acrylics and recently gouache (as in Countdown to Spring!). I prefer a medium that you can make corrections with. My favorite is simple black-and-white drawings. I haven’t lived all over the world, but I have traveled a little bit, and it has influenced me to carry fewer and fewer tools with me when it comes to work, and I think a lot more in my head.

I like to write and illustrate books, whether they are for adults or children . . .

I like to write and illustrate books, whether they are for adults or children. I like the story to be kind and optimistic. I enjoy painting domestic settings.

Since the birth of my daughter I am now more attracted to bold and simple illustrations . . .

My work is also influenced by a Chinese artist named Feng Tse Kai, who worked in the 1930s to 1960s. His simple brush drawings about children, childhood, wars, ordinary people—they are very touching images, but not sentimental. I also admire Ben Shann’s work a great deal.

The whole working process flowed nicely . . .
I enjoyed illustrating The Beauty of the Beast. It is one of those projects that you know is going to look good. The whole working process flowed nicely.

PRAISE

THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST
Poems from the Animal Kingdom

—An ALA Notable Book

“Meilo So does enchantingly unreal paintings: whimsical watercolors made with a wet-on-wet technique that reserves the spontaneity of her hand gestures. In very few brush strokes, she captures the essence of organisms from stallions to sea horses. Yet the images themselves are abstract, almost calligraphic pictograms.”—The New York Times Book Review