Art & Max    by David Wiesner Order:  USA  Can Clarion, 2010 (2010) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch Art & Max has shown up on a number of Best of 2010 lists, and it's easy to see why. Arthur and Max are lizards. And they're artists. Art is a more serious painter, while Max's style is more haphazard. When Max doesn't know what he should paint, Art suggests, 'Well ... you could paint me.' So, taking things literally, that is exactly what Max does. While he is trying to erase the paint that is all over Art, Max ends up reducing Art to his most basic self - a pile of string. So, Max has to reconstruct and recreate Art, who comes back to life the way that Max sees him, which is different than how Art sees himself. It sounds like a simple concept, and it is, but it is eloquently executed with sparse dialogue, surrounded by beautiful splashes of color that together speaks to the power of art and creativity. It also shows that there is no one answer to the question 'what is art?', for it is the expression of self that is key. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews