It also is a great supplement for biography lessons, art and/or paint lessons, and lessons about artists. It’d be so cool if you could take your students to see one of his paintings in real life!Ī Splash of Red is a great addition to non-fiction collections because it engages children in a true story. For example, the inside of the back cover is a full map of where Pippin’s paintings can be located today, and the further reading suggestions include books, film, and websites. (Example pictured left.) The book also includes wonderful resources that can supplement the story.

The quotes’ style matches the deep, rich colors in the rest of the illustrations, and the quotations in the illustrations fit into the plot. Melissa Sweet (the illustrator) incorporates Pippin’s direct quotes into the illustrations beautifully. This book is perfect for educating kids and entertaining them at the same time. I like to use narrative nonfiction and picture book biographies to keep children’s interest in true stories. Elementary students will enjoy looking at the detailed mixed media illustrations, and they will enjoy the understandable text. The story flows well, but it is on the longer side, so reading it out loud to older kids may work better than reading it out loud to preschoolers or kindergartners. Title: A Splash of Red, the Life and Art of Horace Pippin Written by: Jen Bryant Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet Random House/Knopf, 2015, biography Suitable. I love that the text doesn’t just list facts but instead spins a narrative tale that brings us along on the journey of Horace Pippin. The plot doesn’t feel rushed, and Bryant clearly did her research on Pippin. Bryant wrote the book in third-person narrative, and it flows seamlessly from Horace’s childhood to adulthood. The detail, colors and style mesh well with the text of the story.

I first noticed the illustrations when I picked up A Splash of Red.

A splash of red by jen bryant