Have You Read Clara & Senor Frog?

      

Clara, of course, I kept saying Carla, is a little Spanish speaking, Mexican girl, I believe she is Mexican, because her mother spoke of it a few times. But She is the daughter of a magician's assistant, whom met a famous artist and married. Not that Clara doesn't like him, but she think he looks like a frog.... hence the title. One day Senor Frog/Miguel allowed her to paint with him, now, as a new family, that is something tat they do. She had to learn about art, and paintings, and how it makes you feel, and the differences between realism and what you dream of.

       This story, I would put as fictional, because it wasn't based on a real story, you know, nothing from the history books or nothing, BUT!!! I could see it as not fake, because there isn't anything in the story that cant happen. Its about a Mexican family, artists, working, and .... that's it.

       I want to say that the pictures in the story book are made with paint and water colors, because of the strokes that I see. I know a little bit about art, having an artistic brother and sister. And I have seen paintings done by them, and the stroke pattern is similar. I also can point of the textured look of the paintings, the way that the illustrator made things look as if you could feel them. not just 3 dimensional, but the fuzz on bees, and the stems on flowers, and the mouths and screams of the audiences.

       This cultural story opened my eyes to see more about art. Even though, being a little older, I know that art isn't just about looking and copying what you see, but how you feel and want to feel after and before seeing something. But this story gives me a sense of creativity. After looking at what he drew in the story, I see how he felt about someone or something, ,painted it, and then added your feel to it. Like wings on a cat or person. Or a simple moon and sun drawn in the mothers arm. Its all about meaning and feeling.

       If I had to use this book for activity motivation, I would do 2 activities, very similar to each other. One would be about painting using only certain colors, but letting the paint change the perspective of what the object is. Like a bold, black heart, showing sorrow, loss or sadness. Or an all white heart, showing purity and cleanliness. Another activity would be to add on paintings and strokes to a picture of someone or something you love. Like adding flowers, and meaningful saying, and graffiti and hearts all over a picture of your mother that you painted.

       Once you have read this book....
1) Who is an artist in your family? DO you have one?
2) What do you like drawing the most?
3) If you could add on something to a picture, to change the meaning, what picture would it be, and what would you add on? Why?

Geeslin, Campbell., & Sanchez, Ryan. (2007). Clara and Senor Frog. New York: Schwartz &
        Wade Books, Random House Children's Books.