Roy's House

April 4, 2016
Roy Lichtenstein’s dramatic blowups of comic book fragments served as ironic commentary on high art, but Rubin (Stand There! She Shouted: The Invincible Photographer Julia Margaret Cameron) interprets them as a child would, seeing a painting of a rotary phone as an invitation: “In Roy’s house, a telephone rings. Company is coming!” A contemporary sectional in a painted living room is “a great big couch. There is room for many friends.” The journey through the midcentury modern house continues to his studio: “Roy paints pictures here!” Rubin imagines readers participating in Lichtenstein’s work: “We can paint pictures too. Swoosh a stroke of yellow, drip, dripping on the floor.” The book’s most arresting image is one of two photos that accompany the author’s note. It shows Lichtenstein in jeans and a sweater vest at work on one of his huge canvases—a collision between the three-dimensional realness of the man versus the flattened cartoon art he’s painting. While the text doesn’t say much about why the artist painted the way he did, Rubin’s study provides a joyously uninhibited chance to inhabit Lichtensteinian space. Ages 3–5.

April 15, 2016
The pop-art movement of the 20th century is revived in this modern compilation of works by Lichtenstein, who died in 1997.Author Rubin has cleverly chosen works from three decades and put them together into a house-themed picture book for children, based around Lichtenstein's "House 1," a brightly painted aluminum full-size facade with playfully skewed perspective. Lichtenstein's iconic cartoon-style illustrations of the rooms in the house (yellow is a favorite color) are interspersed with humorous details, such as three red fish in a bowl, a humungous hot dog, a slice of cherry pie, and objects from Roy's studio. Speech bubbles and onomatopoeic words--"R-R-R-R-RING!" goes the telephone; there's a "knock knock" at the door--will amuse young readers, and the cheery pop images with heavy, black outlines will have instant appeal for a range of readers. Even though there are no people in the book (aside from a disembodied white hand wielding a sponge), the tone is fun and friendly, and readers will feel welcome in Roy's house. An author's note gives a brief biography of the artist, and details of each featured painting are included in the backmatter.Today's kids will not be particularly shocked by the iconoclastic aspects of pop art, as was Lichtenstein's contemporary audience, but his artwork has an enduring appeal. (Picture book. 3-6)

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August 1, 2016

K-Gr 4-Pop artist Lichtenstein is best known for his larger-than-life paintings composed of dots and featuring black outlines, primary colors, and comic book themes, but it's a photo of the sculpture House 1, created to his specifications, that opens this volume. Readers are invited to "come on in!" and take a tour of the abode, his living room, with a "great big couch," a bedroom with "yellow pillows and lamps," and a counter where they can sit and "have a tasty snack...maybe a hot dog in a bun." Each highlighted room, nook, appliance, or food item is an image from a Lichtenstein oil, drawing, or screenprint. The text, which reflects the hyperbolic tone (and font) of many early comic books (and his paintings), serves to highlight the art in the book; thus the image of a ringing phone ("R-R-R-R-Ring!") stands opposite the words "In Roy's House, A Telephone Rings. COMPANY IS COMING!" An endnote and information on the images included fill in a few details. Steer older students to Rubin's WHAM!: The Life and Art of Roy Lichtenstein for material on the artist's life, influences, and processes. VERDICT While those looking for a story may be disappointed, this entry will provide children with a gallery's worth of images by one of the 20th century's most celebrated artists.-Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2016
Grades K-3 In whimsical fashion, this picture book offers an inviting introduction to Lichtenstein's iconic art, using the device of a house tour, creatively incorporating his works as illustrations. Beginning with a telephone's R-R-R-R-Ring! and Company is coming! a hospitable, enthusiastic narrator guides readers to the living room, which has a great big couch and room for many friends. Then it's off to the kitchen, where we can sit up at the counter and have a tasty snack (cue reproductions of Lichtenstein's famous hot dog and cherry pie paintings). Finally, readers are ushered into the studio, which is filled with brushes ( We can paint pictures, too ). Rubin's spare, playful accompanying text captures the tone and sensibility of Lichtenstein's pieces collected here, which showcase his vibrant palette and animated comics-style approach, filled with retro-slick designs and speech-bubble asides. Though not a biography, this lighthearted title makes for an accessible, engaging approach to the pop artist's paintings for a younger crowd. Appended notes provide additional information about the artist and his bold paintings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)