Titles and Descriptions: T
Take 5 Art Prints Series (Art Prints). Please refer to the title: Self-Portraits.
Take Joy: The Magical World of Tasha Tudor (Video). The Video Project (MGR), 1997. 48 min. Dup. order no. V2942.
This delightful program documents the life and work of world-renowned illustrator and writer, and a most remarkable human being, Tasha Tudor. It was the first time she allowed a film crew access to her daily life. She discusses her family, her painting, her dolls, marionettes, animals, gardening, cooking and public life. Her eternal optimism and great joy in life are portrayed.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Arts Education: Secondary Level; English Language Arts: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9
Taking Time to Act: A Guide to Cross-Curricula Drama (Print-Non-Fiction). Airs, John and Ball, Chris. Heinemann Educational Bks (NEL), 1995. 164 p. ISBN 0-435-08666-9 ($28.26 pbk.).
The authors of Taking Time to Act believe that drama is a medium that children relish. They believe it offers a context and a powerful motivation for learning. This engaging book, with its combination of theory and practice, provides teachers with ideas and inspiration for creating drama with students. Photographs of actual drama events and lively cartoons enhance the text. Teachers with or without drama experience will find this resource a valuable addition to their reference library.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Drama; Teacher Reference
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level
Talk Box Series (Video). Please refer to the titles: How to Make a Movie With No Budget and Turning Doodles to Dollars: Careers in Art.
Talking With Artists Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Please refer to the titles: Talking With Artists: Volume Two and Talking With Artists: Volume Three.
Talking With Artists: Volume Two. 1st ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Cummings, Pat, ed. (Talking With Artists Series). Simon & Schuster, Inc. (DIS), 1995. 96 p. ISBN
0-689-80310-9 ($32.50 hdc.).
The second volume in the Talking With Artists Series presents the value both of practising old techniques and trying new ones. Thirteen artists are profiled in a question-and-answer format. Each entry includes examples of the artist’s works from childhood and adulthood and information gathered from questions about the illustrator’s life story, normal day, family and favourite materials for making art. Pictures of each artist as a child and an adult personalize the profiles. Appended are bibliographies of five books by each illustrator and several pages of "secret techniques" for budding young artists. This is an informative, enjoyable book that is likely to inspire many children to draw.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level
Talking With Artists: Volume Three (Print-Non-Fiction). Cummings, Pat, ed. (Talking With Artists Series). Clarion Books (ALL), 1999. 96 p. ISBN 0-395-89132-9 ($22.46 hdc.).
The third volume in the Talking With Artists Series introduces the concept of illustration as a means of communication. Thirteen artists are profiled in a question-and-answer format. Each entry includes examples of the artist’s works from childhood and adulthood and information about the illustrator’s life, normal working day, family and favourite materials for making art. Pictures of each artist as a child and an adult personalize the profiles. Appended are bibliographies of five books by each illustrator and several pages of "secret techniques" for budding young artists. This book is a fine addition to an absorbing series.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level
Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina (Print-Non-Fiction). Tallchief, Maria, Wells, Rosemary and Kelley, Gary, illus. Viking Penguin (CDS), 1999. 28 p. ISBN 0-670-88756-0 ($23.50 hdc.).
(I/M) Maria Tallchief entranced audiences in ballets such as Firebird, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. In this biographical picture book, ballerina Maria Tallchief describes her childhood on an Osage reservation, the development of her love of dance and her rise to success in that field. Tallchief’s single-minded passion, conveyed in this clear, occasionally poetic narrative would hold appeal and meaning for an audience beyond that of hopeful ballerinas. Gary Kelley’s use of pastel captures the drama of the dance, both in the studio and on the stage.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Dance
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Elementary Level
Teaching Creative Dance: A Handbook. 1st ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Van Papendorp, Jennifer and Friedman, Sharon. Kwela Books (IPG), 1997. 135 p. ISBN 0-7957-0066-0 ($9.95 U.S. pbk.).
This resource uses the aesthetic principles of African dance as a theoretical framework within which children make creative dance decisions. The classroom application of the model involves three areas: rhythms and movement, discovery of movement, and learning through oral traditions. Different approaches to dance are essential for the cultural/historical component of arts education, and this approach, although particularly meaningful to African American children because it links their historical heritage to creative dance expression, is relevant to all children. There are many ideas for creating dance with black-and-white photographs that help to illustrate movements. The book includes suggestions for summative, formative, criterion-referenced and teacher self-assessment, as well as subject and alphabetical indexes.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Dance; Teacher Reference
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level
Theater (Print-Non-Fiction). Malam, John, Cuzik, David, illus. and Donohoe, William, illus. (Building Works Series). Peter Bedrick Books (MON), 2000. 32 p. ISBN 0-87226-588-9 ($27.95 hdc.).
This book from the Building Works Series reveals what goes on backstage at a typical large theatre. Fold-out sections show the theatre building from the outside and then open up to reveal a cutaway view of the inside, with a key to what happens in each area. A plan of the auditorium and stage are also included. The book goes on to examine the building room by room, pointing out where a cyclorama may be found, who would use a "green room" and what happens in the fly gallery. An extensive glossary and an index help to make this a valuable resource for both teachers and students who wish to know more about the way a theatre operates.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Drama
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level
This Land Is Your Land (Video). Guthrie, Woody and Jakobsen, Kathy, illus. Weston Woods (MGR), 1999. 12 min. Dup. order no. V4951. Program Guide - Order no. G4951 ($1.25 loose-leaf).
This favourite folksong, written by Woody Guthrie and sung by his son, Arlo, is brought to toe-tapping life in this richly illustrated production by renowned folk artist Kathy Jakobsen. This American classic that celebrates diversity includes a biographical segment about Woody Guthrie, narrated by his daughter, Nora. (Note: There is a Canadian version of this song as well).
Supporting print is available from Media Group.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Music; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Social Studies: Grades 7-9
To Every Thing There Is a Season: Verses From Ecclesiastes (Print-Non-Fiction). Dillon, Leo, illus. and Dillon, Diane, illus. Scholastic Canada Ltd. (SCH), 1998. unp. ISBN 0-590-47887-7 ($19.79 hdc.).
The well-known verses from Ecclesiastes are intriguingly illustrated within the context of a particular time and civilization in this inviting picture book. Each of the poem’s couplets is accompanied by a double-panel painting that incorporates cultural motifs and the palette and tone of a particular era and region of the world. In order to understand the true meaning of the book, young students will need some explanation. A key at the back of the book explains what setting is being depicted, which style of art is used and why the authors have chosen a particular image. This astonishing array of art styles and media could be likened to an exhibition in a museum.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9
Tomie dePaola: His Art & His Stories (Print-Non-Fiction). Elleman, Barbara. Putnam Publishing (CDS), 1999. 218 p. ISBN 0-399-23129-3 ($50.00 hdc.).
Tomie dePaola is among the best known, best loved artist-authors creating books for children today. His art and his stories, filled with imagination, humour, elegance and curiousity, emanate from a love of life reflected in everything he does. In this detailed, copiously illustrated and beautifully produced book, Barbara Elleman explores Tomie dePaola as artist and illustrator. The book looks first at dePaola’s family life and then at the extraordinary scope of his work–autobiographical picture books, folktales, Christmas themes, religious stories and more. The book contains over 200 illustrations that help to give a fresh appreciation of this unique artist-author. Notes, a chronology, a bibliography and an index are also included.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Secondary Level; English Language Arts: Elementary Level; English Language Arts: Grades 6 to 9; English Language Arts 10; English Language Arts 20; English Language Arts 30
Traditionally Yours… (Compact Disc). Arcand, John. Arcand, John (ACJ), 2001. Order no. JA-007 ($15.00).
(I/M, SK) John Arcand is an active promoter of fiddle music, especially in the Red River tradition. He is a collector of Métis fiddle material, and he has won numerous awards for his music. This Métis fiddling anthology contains traditional tunes in addition to those composed by the late Andy Dejarlis and by John Arcand.
Further information about John Arcand and more resources is available on the Gabriel Dumont website at http://www.gdins.org/ index.html.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Music
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Kindergarten
Transfigured: Jack Shadbolt Inside the Mind (Video). National Film Board of Canada (NFB), 1998. 38 min. Order no. C0198 108 ($49.95).
(CAN) West Coast aboriginal art and nature inspired Jack Shadbolt. This video is a unique three-part compilation that takes the viewer inside the world of this influential artist.
In the first part, Transfigured, filmmaker Stephen Arthur uses animation to pay homage to Shadbolt.
The second part, Metamorphosis, is a revealing documentary showing Shadbolt at work.
Transfigured is then repeated, allowing the viewer to appreciate the animated short in a more analytical way.
Suggested Use: Grade 9; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Secondary Level
Triangles (Video). (Shape Shape Shape Series). Landmark Media Inc. (MGR), 1998. 15 min. Dup. order no. V6755.
The two characters (Bunyip and Swaggle), while attempting to build an object or carry out a task, explore the many properties of different shapes. A mailbox in the shape of a triangular prism that is to be supported on three legs leads the two characters to an investigation of the shapes and the unique property of strength found in triangular constructions.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Mathematics: Elementary Level
Turning Doodles to Dollars: Careers in Art (Video). (Talk Box Series). Murphy Entertainment Group (MCI), 1998. 25 min. Order no. 930029 ($89.00).
Young students aged 10-14 interview professionals in a live-action studio setting. This program features a billboard designer, a cartoonist and a graphic designer. Time is given after every interview to allow the video to be stopped for discussion and questions.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Visual Art
Other Use: Arts Education: Elementary Level; Career Guidance: Middle Level
Two for the Show: Scenes for Student Actors. 1st ed. (Print-Anthology). Kennedy, Brian, ed. Playwrights Canada Press (PLCN), 1999. 260 p. ISBN 0-88754-579-3 ($15.95 pbk.).
(CAN) This anthology contains 39 short scenes written by over 20 of Canada’s premiere playwrights. The aim of the collection is to provide young adults with a selection of character scenes so they will realize that the essential process of rehearsing, playing character and staging a short scene is an enjoyable and engaging experience. An introduction to playwriting and critical analysis of dramatic text as well as a sample rubric for evaluation are included. The themes and issues contained in the short scenes feature a variety of cultural and social settings and will appeal to young adults.
Suggested Use: Grade 9; Drama
Other Use: Arts Education: Secondary Level; Drama 10, 20, 30
TYA 5: Theatre for Young Audience. 1st ed. (Print-Non-Fiction). Cumming, Peter, et al. Playwrights Canada Press (PLCN), 1998. 268 p. ISBN 0-88754-577-7 ($17.95 pbk.).
(CAN, I/M) Plays by writers drawn from across the country representing both French and English cultures are featured in this anthology of plays. One is based on a First Nations legend, another on a Quebec folktale, still another is an examination of the grieving process, and two celebrate the healing balm of nature. The editors have chosen works that they believe will encourage imagination. This diverse collection contains plays for all ages, but teachers should note that some of the plays are of a deep and serious tone. Care should be taken to choose plays that are appropriate for the experience, age and background of the students.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Drama