Two Artists, Grandad and Me

K-Gr 3–In this beautifully illustrated picture book, Barlow describes how her grandfather, Jerry Pinkney, inspired her to become an artist and illustrator. Using collage and multiple media, the story describes her going into her grandfather’s studio and being inspired by the music he played, the work he did, and the techniques and methods he used. His gentle encouragement helped her learn to be patient with herself as well understand that mistakes are part of the process. He also taught her to value her own work as an artist by reminding her that artists see the world in different ways. Readers can almost feel the love and affection radiating off the pages as the girl in the story draws, paints, and creates with her grandfather. The sensory details of sound and sensation add depth to the story. This is an excellent book for any budding artist but also to convey how mentors and teachers help on the journey of learning and creating. It would also be a great opportunity to introduce the work of Jerry Pinkney.