Art Detective: Spot the Difference!

Gr 1–4—Canine detective Charlie the Sleuth solves art crimes, but needs help cracking his most difficult case yet—that of a rampant forger. After viewing two versions of the same painting, readers are encouraged to spot the fakes, easily recognizable because they are riddled with upwards of 15 errors. The scope of the works included is quite vast, ranging from medieval to 20th-century art, and represents a variety of techniques and subjects. Despite its heavily Western European feel (the majority of the works are from French, German, and Dutch painters), this title attempts to take on more of a global perspective by incorporating pieces from India, Italy, and the U.S. Back matter provides youngsters with the solutions to each puzzle while enlightening them with facts about the paintings and artists. This is an interesting take on the subject, albeit one that's been done before, and a fair addition to collections needing to update art-appreciation titles. The lack of in-depth information renders it a secondary purchase, but it might be a welcome change for readers who enjoy seek-and-find books.—Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library