Folk Art Animal Sounds

Artwork by Barry Colpitts

Words by Carol McDougall and Shanda LaRamee-Jones

Nimbus Publishing

978-1-77471-334-1

26 pp.

Ages 0-2

October 2024

 

Like their earlier board books Maud Lewis 1 2 3 and Maud Lewis Colours, authors Carol McDougall and Shanda LaRamee-Jones base their concept books on the art of the East Coast, bringing culture and colour to teaching numbers, colours or, as here, animal sounds. This time the illustrations are the art of Nova Scotian folk artist and carver Barry Colpitts.

From Folk Art Animal Sounds, artwork by Barry Colpitts, text by Carol McDougall and Shanda LaRamee-Jones

Thirteen animals are depicted in simple double-spreads that focus on a carving, the animal's name, and the sound it makes. The animals include the rooster, pig, fox, goose, cat, fish, eagle, cheetah, sheep, peacock, bear, dog, and whale. While the text is rudimentary–it is a concept book–there are a few less familiar sounds like those for the fox, peacock, and whale. And though the sounds themselves are depicted in large and boldly coloured letters, the stars of the book are the folk carvings of Barry Colpitts.

From Folk Art Animal Sounds, artwork by Barry Colpitts, text by Carol McDougall and Shanda LaRamee-Jones

Barry Colpitts's sculptures are joyous in their colours and shapes. The animals are easily recognizable and adorably cute, especially when he adds secondary animals to their backs. For example, the dalmatian has a cat on its back which in turn has a bird on its back. Barry Colpitts keeps the colours of the animals both realistic and fanciful, helping young children to both recognize the creatures and be amused by them.

From Folk Art Animal Sounds, artwork by Barry Colpitts, text by Carol McDougall and Shanda LaRamee-Jones

Folk Art Animal Sounds is a unique concept book, teaching young children the sounds that animals make. The text is simple and will be easily repeated and then read by preschoolers.  But, beyond the animal sounds, Folk Art Animal Sounds builds on the folk art collection of Barry Colpitts and exposes very young kids to a traditional art form. The book is as beautiful as any coffee table book about art, and I suspect art lovers will enjoy it as much as the children learning the utterances of familiar animals.

Maud Lewis Colours

Artwork by Maud Lewis

Words by Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall

Nimbus Publishing

978-1-77108-878-7

24 pp.

Ages 0-4

June 2023

Concept books such as this one are created to help teach our very young children basic concepts like colours and numbers. The vehicle by which that teaching happens is what separates the basic from the sublime. With the artwork of Canadian folk painter Maud Lewis providing the foundation for this board book, concept teaching goes from elemental to elevated.

From Maud Lewis Colours, art by Maud Lewis, words by Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall

Maud Lewis's life in rural Nova Scotia was one of hardships and isolation. But her art was joyous and that's what is seen in Maud Lewis Colours. Because the artist used whatever paint she could scrounge up, her colours are intensely vibrant but harmonious in a balanced way. It's the kind of art that will captivate children while teaching them white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, brown, and black. For each colour, one of Maud Lewis's paintings is displayed with text printed on the opposite page of contrasting colour.  Nova Scotian writers Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall had a great number of pieces of art from which to choose because all Maud Lewis's are colourful, but the authors' selections ensured a wonderful cross-section of her art. There are landscapes of purple hills, green grass and blue water, many animal paintings from a white cat to brown oxen and yellow birds, and wagons, sleighs and even a Model T car. There's a little bit of everything but mostly a lot of boldness of paint–appropriate for a concept book on colours–and a celebration of Nova Scotia from both the past and the present.

From Maud Lewis Colours, art by Maud Lewis, words by Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall

I know Maud Lewis Colours is a concept book for very young children but for when they're a little older and for those who share it with them, it is also a beautiful introduction to a Canadian artist–there is a double spread dedicated to "one colourful artist" with information about her–and an invitation to see colour in their own lives.

From Maud Lewis Colours, art by Maud Lewis, words by Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall

• • • • • • •

 

There is an earlier book, Maud Lewis 1, 2, 3 (Nimbus, 2017), that would be a fitting accompaniment to Maud Lewis Colours for teaching basic but colourful concepts.

Maud Lewis 123 (Nimbus, 2017)

Maud Lewis Colours (Nimbus, 2023)