JACOB LAWRENCE IN THE CITY

A child’s voice narrates a sequence of ten paintings by the great African-American artist, with an emphasis on rhythm and onomatopoeia. There’s merit to introducing fine art to very young children, but it’s unlikely that this or its companion, Magritte’s Imagination (978-0-8118-6583-8), is the best vehicle. The small trim (6 1/8 X 5 3/16) forces Lawrence’s large canvases into disappointingly cramped frames, in which his expressive and emotional compositions lose power and his figures distinction. This makes for an overbusy presentation that is further overwhelmed by the bold typeface and design-heavy frames and backgrounds. Templar/Candlewick’s Art for Baby (2009) is a far better choice, inasmuch as it is specifically keyed to babies’ neural development. (18-36 mos.)