LEONARDO DA VINCI

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371

PLOT SUMMARY
Leonardo was born in 1452 to a peasant woman and a country gentleman who was a leading citizen of Vinci. Because of Leonardo’s illegitimate birth, he was unable to follow his father in the family profession as a notary, so he became an artist. His creative talents shined through and he became an apprentice to a famous artist. Leonardo was also passionate for other things other than art as demonstrated in many of his famous notebooks. “There were drawings of grotesque faces, drafts of letters, sketches for future paintings, lists of books he owned, plans for inventions, moral observations, pages copied out of books he had borrowed, notes of things to remember, designs for weapons, drawings of anatomy and observations of nature.” As a great painter, sculptor, architect, scientist and inventor, Leonardo was one of the most amazing people who ever lived.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Stanley takes readers into the life of Leonardo da Vinci from his illegitimate birth to the last days of his life. She chronicles his extraordinary achievements from his famous paintings to his exceptional inventions. Young readers will be fascinated by Leonardo’s creative imagination as expressed through many of his famous notebooks. They will learn about Leonardo’s famous Last Supper painting to his study of anatomy. His reputation as a mechanical genius is clear when readers learn about his inventions of a flying machine to one of the world's first air cooling systems. Stanley presents her beautiful illustrations to accompany her story as well as actual drawings and sketches which Leonardo made in his lifetime. Leonardo’s numerous accomplishments and adventurous life will keep young readers entertained and interested.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review from Booklist: “This is the best of the many children’s books on Leonardo.”

Starred review from Publishers Weekly: “These exquisite reproductions, as well as sepia-toned spot art taken from da Vinci’s notebooks, sit uncommonly well within Stanley’s own paintings, educating the reader about da Vinci’s masterpieces as a natural part of the visual storytelling. A virtuosic work.”

CONNECTIONS
Children can create similar inventions and learn more about Leonardo’s life in the following books:
Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself ISBN 0974934429
Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids Series)
ISBN 1556522983
Leonard, The Beautiful Dreamer ISBN 0525470336