Status
Available
Local notes
940.2 Fri
Collection
Genres
Publication
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (2001), Edition: First Edition, 48 pages
Description
Examines the life of Leonardo da Vinci, focusing on his unfinished sculpture of a huge horse he was commissioned to create for the Duke of Milan in the late 1400s, and discusses how the project was taken up by pilot Charlie Dent in 1977 and, after several setbacks, completed and presented as a gift to Milan in 1999.
Subjects
Awards
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee — 2014)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2005)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 2004)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2003)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Informational Books — 2004)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 3-5 — 2003)
South Dakota Children's Book Awards (Nominee — 2004)
Orbis Pictus Award (Recommended Title — 2002)
Michigan Notable Books (2002)
Notable Children's Book (2002)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2001
Physical description
48 p.; 8.5 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member PaigeMcIlwain
Leonardo’s Horse revolves around the theme of devotion. This book takes readers through Leonardo da Vinci’s life and some of his greatest accomplishments. Much focus is placed on one particular project; da Vinci was chosen to create a 24 foot bronze horse for the king; however, when the French
This book would be a great tool in a young adolescent classroom. For example, the book could be used to introduce different periods of art, such as the Renaissance. A teacher could use the pictures in the book as examples of da Vinci’s works and also incorporate art works from other artists into the lesson. Another lesson this book could introduce would be a history lesson on the French invasion of Milan. Leonardo’s Horse could even be used to explain proportions in math. A teacher could point out that da Vinci created a smaller model and then attempted the full size statue. Various lessons could be formed using this book.
This was truly a beautiful book, and the illustrations are essential. I could never have imagined the process of making a bronze horse, and thankfully, wonderful visuals are given. I love that this was not only an intriguing story but also a true story. The time period was one of beauty and innovation, and this book helped me to put that in perspective. I also enjoyed how the dream of da Vinci’s horse continued generations after the original idea.
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invaded, the horse was destroyed. Readers are able to see that even when da Vinci was on his death bed, he was haunted by the incompletion of his bronze horse. In this book, several individuals from different places and time periods are determined to build the giant bronze horse that was da Vinci’s dream. This book would be a great tool in a young adolescent classroom. For example, the book could be used to introduce different periods of art, such as the Renaissance. A teacher could use the pictures in the book as examples of da Vinci’s works and also incorporate art works from other artists into the lesson. Another lesson this book could introduce would be a history lesson on the French invasion of Milan. Leonardo’s Horse could even be used to explain proportions in math. A teacher could point out that da Vinci created a smaller model and then attempted the full size statue. Various lessons could be formed using this book.
This was truly a beautiful book, and the illustrations are essential. I could never have imagined the process of making a bronze horse, and thankfully, wonderful visuals are given. I love that this was not only an intriguing story but also a true story. The time period was one of beauty and innovation, and this book helped me to put that in perspective. I also enjoyed how the dream of da Vinci’s horse continued generations after the original idea.
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LibraryThing member ericarhenry
I really enjoyed this book. It was about Leonardo Da Vinci and a little bit about his life - different projects that he had worked on. He had always struggled to make a bronze horse. First it was just going to be regular sized, then the king decided he wanted one three times life sized. Leonardo
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tried and kept coming back to the project. He finally made a 24 foot clay model that was destroyed by the French when they invaded Italy. Hundreds of years later, Charles Dent reads about Leonardo's horse and wants to build it for him. he sets out and tries himself, but becomes ill. He dies before the horse is complete, but an artist has been found to take over the project. The horse is finally completed and is given as a gift to Itlay from America like Charlie wanted. I thought this was a captivating story and very interesting. There were just the right amount of history in here. The illustrations complemented the story well. Show Less
LibraryThing member Eowyn_33
Critique: This is a pretty amazing informational & biographical book which covers the Horse of Milan, which Leonardo started in his day and never completed due to his death, and then Charles Dent took up the project and he also died before it could be completed, and finally Nina Akamu took it up
Media: watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil, collage
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and completed it.Media: watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil, collage
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LibraryThing member jroy218
"Leonardo's Horse" by Jean Fritz blends two related stories into one. It begins telling the story of Leonardo da Vinci. It touches on some of his work but focuses on his quest to make a 24 foot bronze horse. He got all the way to make the clay replication of the 24 foot horse before it was
We then jump to modern times and the story of Charles Dent. Charles Dent was an airplane pilot and discovered the story of Leonardo's horse in 1977. Dent was determined to see this project all the way through. Dent saw it all the way through the 8 foot plaster model of the horse. He died before it could be blown up into the 24 foot clay model it needed to be. His family vowed the horse would be finished. Eventually, an artist named Nina Akamu finished the horse.
This book by Jean Fritz would be good to use when discussing da Vinci in an art class, a history class, etc. You could also use this book to show children why it's always good to try to follow an idea you have all the way to the end.
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destroyed in a war. Leonardo dies without ever seeing his vision all the way through. We then jump to modern times and the story of Charles Dent. Charles Dent was an airplane pilot and discovered the story of Leonardo's horse in 1977. Dent was determined to see this project all the way through. Dent saw it all the way through the 8 foot plaster model of the horse. He died before it could be blown up into the 24 foot clay model it needed to be. His family vowed the horse would be finished. Eventually, an artist named Nina Akamu finished the horse.
This book by Jean Fritz would be good to use when discussing da Vinci in an art class, a history class, etc. You could also use this book to show children why it's always good to try to follow an idea you have all the way to the end.
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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Prolific children's author Jean Fritz, who has explored the lives of many historical figures in her titles - What's The Big Idea, Ben Franklin?, Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?, You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? - here turns her attention to the little-known tale of the horse that
An engaging tale - and one with which I was completely unfamiliar! - Leonardo's Horse is part biography and part human interest story, offering young readers an introduction to one of the most important figures of the Italian Renaissance, while also highlighting, through the story of Dent's (and then sculptor Nina Akamu's) quest to finish da Vinci's project, the impact that his work still has, these many centuries later. That idea - that contemporary people still feel passionately enough about da Vinci's legacy that they will go to great lengths to honor it - is the best thing about this book, although illustrator Hudson Talbott's accompanying artwork is also very appealing. All in all, an appealing book, one I would recommend to young artists and dreamers, and to any young reader interested in Leonardo da Vinci.
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Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci created for the duke of Milan. That is to say, the horse he meant to create for the duke, but which (despite a clay model being made) was never cast, and which haunted him until his death. Turning from the sad day in 1519, Fritz moves on the 1970s, when American Charlie Dent, having stumbled upon the story, sets out to create Leonardo's horse at last, as a gift from the people of America to the people of Italy.An engaging tale - and one with which I was completely unfamiliar! - Leonardo's Horse is part biography and part human interest story, offering young readers an introduction to one of the most important figures of the Italian Renaissance, while also highlighting, through the story of Dent's (and then sculptor Nina Akamu's) quest to finish da Vinci's project, the impact that his work still has, these many centuries later. That idea - that contemporary people still feel passionately enough about da Vinci's legacy that they will go to great lengths to honor it - is the best thing about this book, although illustrator Hudson Talbott's accompanying artwork is also very appealing. All in all, an appealing book, one I would recommend to young artists and dreamers, and to any young reader interested in Leonardo da Vinci.
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LibraryThing member rdg301library
This picture book biography starts with Leonardo da Vinci and his vision to create a bronze horse statue in honor of his father. After becoming busy with other famous works he regretfully did not finish the horse and the clay model was destroyed. Several centuries later Charles Dent wanted to
This book can also show students that math has not changed in a long time. This book also provides students with the knowledge that calculators are not needed to solve math problems. The book also gives insight into Leonardo da Vinci. This book would be good for a cross-curriculum project for students researching da Vinci. Jean Fritz gives some detail to de Vinci’s life without giving all the information.
Informational Nonfiction
Reading Level: 4.6
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finish Leonardo’s horse but he too died without finishing it. However, Charles’ friends and family did finish it after his death and cast it in bronze. Now 500 years after Leonardo started his horse it was finally finished and sent to Milan. The author focuses more on the horse than its makers, making this picture book informational rather than biography. This book can also show students that math has not changed in a long time. This book also provides students with the knowledge that calculators are not needed to solve math problems. The book also gives insight into Leonardo da Vinci. This book would be good for a cross-curriculum project for students researching da Vinci. Jean Fritz gives some detail to de Vinci’s life without giving all the information.
Informational Nonfiction
Reading Level: 4.6
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Marvelous. Reads like a story, even though it's not a narrative. Just a beautiful and concise introduction to Da Vinci, his time and place, to art, even to the actual process of making a bronze sculpture. Teachers can use it, and families can love it.
LibraryThing member themulhern
Kind of fun, but, oddly, Jean Fritz did not choose to be humorous. The illustrations are good. There is a whole two page spread in which Leonardo contemplates other famous equestrian statues. I believe every statue is real; I was annoyed that I could not identify them.
LibraryThing member doehlberg63
I truly enjoyed this historical non-fiction book about the massive efforts, time, planning and finances it took to create the bronze horse that Leonardo so desperately desired to place in Milan. There is a lot of history presented in a way that older elementary and middle school students could
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appreciate. It would definitely be appropriate for teaching an art OR history lesson. In fact, this book would lend itself well across the curriculum for other areas, such as Science, for STEM education regarding the engineering of the actual horse statue itself. This story is not dry. There is a lot of emotion portrayed in the stories of all who helped to create Leonardo's dream to come true. Show Less
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Pages
48