Kudos
"I am so impressed with Artsy-Fartsy! It is genuinely funny, entertaining, and educational. The personalities of even the minor characters are developed well, and the plot lines all come to satisfying conclusions in an artful way."
– Leslie Patterson, author and former children's librarian
"We got Artsy-Fartsy last week and my son (who just has better things to do than read) has not put it down from the moment he got it. He has devoured the Wimpy Kid books, but said that he likes Aldo better because it's funnier. It's fun to hear giggles coming from the family room and my son is NOT watching TV."
– Chris Maguire, mom
"I was supposed to be wrapping Christmas gifts last night, but instead I was reading this hilarious book! It is fabulous, and I want to read it to ALL my classes. I love the vocabulary, sarcasm, everything!"
– Sandy Scheirman, media specialist
"I really liked your book. I got it for Christmas. Aldo was really funny. I was wondering if there was another book...You did good at drawing and writing. I'm giving a copy of the book to my friend."
– Joshua (9)
"A perfect summer vacation book."
- Sarah W., B&N.com Parents and Educators blogger
"A new classic."
- Gloria Tiller, Kazoo Books
Artsy-Fartsy
Aldo Zelnick is the star of a new comic novel series for children by author Karla Oceanak and illustrator Kendra Spanjer. Ten-year-old Aldo lives with his family in Colorado. He's not athletic like his older brother, he's not a rock hound like his best friend, but he does like bacon. And when his artist grandmother, Goosy, gives him a sketchbook to "record all his artsy-fartsy ideas" during summer vacation, it turns out Aldo is a pretty good cartoonist.
In addition to an engaging cartoon story, Artsy-Fartsy includes an illustrated glossary of fun A words used throughout the book, such as absurd, abominable, and audacious.
Did you notice?
Artsy-Fartsy's cover shows Aldo sketching a self-portrait a la Norman Rockwell. Fortunately Aldo chose to forego the pipe.
Awards
- 2009 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award bronze winner, juvenile fiction
- 2009 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award finalist, graphic novel
- 2010 Colorado Book Award winner, juvenile fiction
- 2010 Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association Regional Book Award winner, children's chapter book
- 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist
- 2010 Creative Child magazine Seal of Excellence award
- Five Stars, What The Stuff Toy Review
Reviews
- Numerous excellent reviews by book bloggers
- Many unsolicited teacher and librarian kudos
- Midwest Book Review
- Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper
- Kids love it – especially reluctant readers – and there are stacks of letters to prove it!
