NONFICTION - Leonardo Da Vinci

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

PLOT SUMMARY
Stanley’s biography, Leonardo Da Vinci, provides a short yet informative chronological accounting of the renowned artist and scientist’s life. The story takes the reader on a journey through Renaissance Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries, following the tragedies and triumphs of Da Vinci’s career. From his purported illegitimate birth to his final three years as an advisor to the King of France, Da Vinci’s life is revealed in a series of short vignette-like stories of his various undertakings, both artistic and scholarly. The reader learns of Da Vinci’s uncommon childhood, his apprenticeship in the painter’s guild, his little known musical abilities, his multitude of scientific experiments and observations, his famed notebooks, and his artistic endeavors. We learn of Da Vinci’s interactions with some of his famous contemporaries such Michelangelo, Verrocchio, Niccolo Machiavelli, Lorenzo de Medici, Duke Ludovico Sforza, and Francis I (King of France). The biographical aspects of the text are enhanced by reproductions from Da Vinci’s own notebooks and by Stanley’s full page drawings which portray the great Da Vinci in his day to day activities.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Accuracy is still the order of the day despite the engaging story-like quality of this biography. What makes the book particularly unique are the little known facts held within the pages. For example, it is revealed that Da Vinci was a person who “began projects only to abandon them”, perhaps because he was bored or because he was interested in other things. Also, the world knows Da Vinci for his artistic masterpieces and his scientific inquiry, but few are aware of his keen sense of music. Da Vinci even designed musical instruments and gave Duke Ludovico Sforza a “bizarre silver lira in the shape of a horse’s skull”. The process of creating a painting from start to finish is painstakingly described, including the meticulous paper punch and black chalk transfer method. Stanley’s research is exceptional in its ability to provide tidbits of rare and interesting information about the original Renaissance Man. This unusual talent for engaging the reader in a biographical genre while also entertaining along the way is the mark of a true storyteller.

Da Vinci’s life unfolds on the pages in vibrant gouache, colored pencil, and watercolor paintings coupled with photo collages of some of the artist’s most famous works such as The Last Supper and The Mona Lisa. In addition, the sketches from Da Vinci’s notebooks add rich detail to the story. For example, as Stanley writes about Da Vinci’s scientific exploits concerning the human body, one is able to view two very detailed drawings of a skull and a torso. These drawings are from Da Vinci’s notebooks and depict a style of transparent drawing that he developed which is still used by medical artists today. The forward and postscript implemented by Stanley helped to frame the life of Da Vinci within its historical context. Further compliments to this vivid biography are a pronunciation guide, a bibliography, and a list of recommended reading for younger children.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Winner of the 1997 Orbis Pictus Award
* ALA Notable Book – 1996
* Boston-Globe Horn Book Honor Book for Nonfiction – 1997
* Publisher’s Weekly Best Book Award - 1996
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The text is readable and interesting; the author is careful to distinguish between facts and surmises, and uses quotes from Leonardo's own writings to demonstrate his attitudes. The book's design is exemplary.”
* BOOKLIST REVIEW: “Well researched, intelligently written, and beautifully illustrated, this is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo.”
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “Stanley produces her most stunning pictorial biography to date. Drawing from a range of sources, including her subject's extensive notebooks, Stanley's conversational narrative describes Leonardo Da Vinci's astoundingly far-reaching and varied achievements.”

CONNECTIONS
* Create a concept map being sure to include all of Da Vinci’s different talents.
* Study some of Da Vinci’s art. Identify elements of style that are specific to Da Vinci’s work. Try drawing a Da Vinci painting such as the Mona Lisa or The Last Supper using the paper punch & black chalk copy method described in the book.
* Learn about Da Vinci’s different scientific inventions. Build a model of one of his inventions based on his notebook sketches and writings.
* Talk about Da Vinci’s habit of not finishing things he started. Brainstorm why this may have happened. Talk about times you may not finish things. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
* Other children’s biographies & activity books about Leonardo Da Vinci:
1) Byrd, Robert. LEONARDO, THE BEAUTIFUL DREAMER. ISBN 0525470336
2) Herbert, Janis. LEONARDO DA VINCI FOR KIDS: HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, 21 ACTIVITIES. ISBN 1556522983
3) O’Connor, Barbara. LEONARDO DA VINCI: RENAISSANCE GENIUS. ISBN 0876144679
4) Anderson, Maxine. AMAZING LEONARDO DA VINCI INVENTIONS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF. ISBN 0974934429
5) Edwards, Roberta. WHO WAS LEONARDO DA VINCI?. ISBN 0448443015