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Review: Cultured Donuts

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Cultured Donuts
By Chloe Tyler
Toronto, ON: Flowerpot Press, 2022. Informational.

Using the iconic image of the pink frosted donut, Chloe Tyler imitates the styles of 16 famous artists ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary. Each spread is paired with a biography of the artist, explaining the art movement they hail from and what medium they favored. Most pages also include an example of the artist's work. A "Delicious Detail" accompanies the text, giving an interesting fact about the artist's career.

The inventiveness of the author in how she adapted each artist's style was delightful.  The subject matter of the donut makes the history accessible to kids, and many of the spreads include extra details in margins on both sides. There is also a section at the end giving instructions to those inspired to try out each artist's style for themselves. A glossary at the back provides explanation for the terms used throughout the book. This is an enjoyable, eye-catching introduction to Western art history.
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