Thursday, June 21, 2012

NYC's Museum Mile with Chet the Architect

Chet McGraw is a fictional architect who takes children on a journey down New York City's Museum Mile. Featured in two books, Chet the Architect teaches about the diverse architecture of the 9 museums and the simple shapes kids can use to draw pictures of the museums.




Chet the Architect: How to Draw by Kathryn Koller teaches children to draw the outside of each of the 9 museums on NYC's Museum Mile. By using color photographs of the museum and line drawings children learn about simple shapes and how to combine those shapes to draw their own version of the each museum.

I love that my kids can learn simple architecture terms while having fun drawing on the pages provided in this book.




Chet the Architect: Museum Mile Pocket Edition is an accordion style book that provides a few facts about each museum along with a drawing of the building. Among the facts listed are architect, date built, architecture style, and the museum's purpose.


I can see families using these books in a variety of ways:
  • to prepare for a visit to NYC's Museum Mile.
  • to learn how to combine simple shapes to create complex drawings.
  • to introduce architecture styles to children.

I like both books and heartily recommend them. The publisher, Butterfly Artistic Media, recommends Chet the Architect books for ages 4 and up, but (as the mom of 3, 5, 7, 9 yr olds) I recommend these books for ages 7 and up. I'm just not sure that children under 7 would be interested in the architecture aspect of these books.


Have you visited any of the New York Museums listed in these books?


Disclosure: A copy of each book was provided to me in order to facilitate my review. The opinions stated are completely mine.


6 comments:

Mama Luvs Books said...

Wow!! That looks super cool! I might have to get that for my kids! We love traveling and learning about new places!

LOVE MELISSA:) said...

I have never heard of this museum or these books but now, I am running to check them out. We are huge NYC fans are big into education too! Thank you do much. Wonderful review!!

sarah b said...

That's really neat! Im a museum and architecture nut so I'd love to share these with my daughter!

Stephanie Kay said...

Thanks, Ladies! Reading these books really makes me want to plan a road trip to NYC! :)

Unknown said...

And, while you visit the museums you can visit me! ;) What great books. I love architecture.

Stephanie Kay said...

That would be fun, Candice! We've never taken the kids to NYC and it's on my bucket list for this year. :)

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