What Is a Sculpture – written by Diane Borsato, illustrated by Laura Carlin
Tundra Books, 2026
There are many books introducing children to artistic concepts and they take different approaches. Some focus on an overview of an art form, using the work of different artists as examples. Often the author and illustrator emphasize that there are different ways to define a work of art; perfection is not one of them. Jeff Mack’s Time to Make Art is a wonderful conversation with children. Humor can play a role, as in the argument among a group of animals about what a strange, human, creature is doing in her studio, as in Madeline Kloepper’s Outside Art (other examples of humorous yet meaningful picture books about art are here and here and here and here). Of course, there are biographies of artists that offer a more specific focus, while still including discussions of art’s significance to cultural life (for example this and this and this and this and this and this and this).
Diane Borsato and Laura Carlin build on the premise that children like three-dimensional objects. A museum visit with kids often proves this assumption. Whether it is the scale, the tactile nature (even if you are not allowed to touch the sculpture), or its apparently more direct relationship to reality than two-dimensional artwork, sculpture resonates with children. What Is a Sculpture is not an historical overview; there are few references to pre-20th, or early 20th century, works, with the exception of Rodin’s The Thinker. But the books does promote thinking about what defines sculpture; it takes a broad view of that question.
Carlin’s pictures are incredibly appealing, and the perfect vehicle for visualizing the book’s argument. She combines photos of three-dimensional objects with ink, pencil, watercolor, and pastel drawings. The opening two-page spread is a city constructed of, among other things, waffles, Legos, and stationery items. (These reminded me of the wonderful Look-Alikes series by Joan Steiner, as well as Marianna Balducci’s artwork in Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf.) (link to my blog) Below the towering buildings, hand-drawn vehicles and people move on the street, implicitly contrasting two and three-dimensional works of art, as well as differences in scale.
Borsato encourages young readers to think about the parameters of sculpture, and lists the range of works that may qualify for the genre. These include “A gargantuan arachnid…A tidy pyramid of oranges,…and…Glowing neon letters.” She does give some examples of artists who tested limits: Meret Oppenheim’s fur tea cup and Anish Kapoor’s Descent into Limbo.
Carlin’s drawings of these works are her own interpretations of the originals. Then Borsato takes her open-minded viewpoint about what is art, one which is likely to resonate with children, and pursues it to its ultimate endpoint. If a teacup made with fur is a sculpture, what about objects found in nature and modified, or food items, such as bannock or challah? Is an arrangement of existing items into a new configuration and context also a sculpture? Whether or not you agree with her flexibility, it will promote interesting discussions with children.
There are lots of ideas for projects: building with sticks, rocks, and pine cones, stringing paper tags with wishes written them across a branch, and more. The pine cone mice are adorable. Borsato suggests connecting parts of your room with string make an art installation of furniture in a kind of web. Carlin’s illustration of this is actually a miniaturized diorama of handmade and curated bed, rug, and accessories.
Not every three-dimensional object would be considered a sculpture, but, just considering the possibility that a broad range of such creations might qualify for membership is intriguing.