Art History – Leonardo da Vinci

Suitable for: 5-7 years (Key stage 1), 7-11 years (Key stage 2), 11-14 years (Key stage 3)

Sponsored by: The Equitable Charitable Trust

Available braille grades: Grade 1, Grade 2

This educational resource fact book, plus story is designed to provide access to a selection of works by the Italian artisit Leonardo Da Vinci. Informative audio guides describe Da Vinci famous paintings including the Mona Lisa and his drawings for a helicopter! This fact book may support subjects in the National Curriculum and is great as an educational resource in class. Also good for home-schooling, homework-help, project work, independent learning and reading for pleasure.

Includes picture book, Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt: Zoro is the young pupil of the amazing painter, sculptor, scientist and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci. Every day he works hard in Leonardo’s workshop, mixing colours, cleaning paintbrushes and practising his drawings. But he is never allowed inside the secret locked room, where Leonardo spends hours hammering and sawing at a mysterious invention. One day Leonardo brings a mischievous boy named Salai to work for him. He is so intrigued by the secret room that he steals the keys to find out what is inside.

Listen to an audio clip

On the cover of the book is Leonardo in his studio holding in his arms his most famous painting known as 'The Mona Lisa' (it's a picture of a smiling woman and there will be more about this picture further on in this story). In holding onto this painting, he has let go of a number of drawings which are floating to the floor, landing near to a pile of large notebooks, Leonardo's spectacles and an inkpot in which stands a quill pen. Do you know what a quill pen is?
What is startling about this picture is that Leonardo is having to bend sideways to avoid being hit on the head by a strange wooden contraption it's a sort of wooden harness holding a small boy. Attached to the harness are huge heavy wings, the whole thing hanging by a rope strung high across the studio.

What's inside

A picture book with painted tactile pictures and braille.
A collection of raised tactile pictures.
Audio descriptions with music and sound effects in your chosen format of either CD or USB.
A large print colour image pack or postcard pack.
Guidance notes for parents and teachers to help you make the most of using this book.
An ‘Articles for the Blind’ returns label for the free and convenient return of the box.

Touch to see image list

The Helicopter by Leonardo Da Vinci
Portrait of Lady with an Ermine
Mona Lisa

Inside the picture book:
2 Boys (Salai & Zoro)
Flying Machine
Lifebelt
Person walking on water
Leonardo Da Vinci

Subjects

What our members say

Gave a detailed picture It was perfect to give her a detailed picture in her mind of the Mona Lisa. She was able to fully participate in the lesson at the same time as everyone else. She loved the "Da Vinci" facts at the end. Library Member