Bateman feels like a name I should know but I definitely don't. The story this book presents is a simple one. Bateman followed a passion, building skill through education, observation, and practice. It's an admirable progression, gentle enough for the very young reader but with messages meaningful to older kids.

"Celebrated artist Robert Bateman is renowned internationally for bringing the natural  world to life on the canvas. A naturalist and painter from his youth, Robert has for decades used his recognition to shed light on environmental issues and advocate for animal welfare.

Robert Bateman: The Boy Who Painted Nature is the story of how a young child achieved his dream of painting the world around him and became one of Canada's most famous artists.

Using Robert's own personal photographs, sketches and artwork, author Margriet Ruurs weaves a simple story of inspiration and encouragement. A story to motivate all the budding artists and naturalists in your life, with proceeds benefiting The Bateman Foundation."

Robert Bateman, besides being a family friend, is in my mind the best wildlife artist there is. Hands down.

Robert Bateman: The Boy Who Painted Nature is a beautiful biography, geared to children but could be read by anyone. It tells the story of the famous Canadian artist beginning as a young boy who fell in love with the natural world surrounding him. He loved to observe nature, study its shapes, textures and colours and then reproduce what he say in his sketchbook, and finally painting it. His paintings are so realistic that they look like actual photographs. The illustrations are all photographs of his sketches and paintings, which gave a personal touch to the story. I loved that they showed him passing on his love of nature to his children and grandchildren. This would be a wonderful book to introduce a Canadian Artist to a class, as well as a unit on sketching and painting nature. A beautiful book. The publisher, Orca Book Publishers, provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.

This is a stunning children's picture book that is sure to be a favourite for years to come! "The Boy Who Painted Nature" is wonderfully illustrated in Bateman's signature realism style with a precious story written by Margriet Ruurs about Bateman's beginnings as an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist. We will certainly be ordering this into our bookshop, and its release is just in time for Christmas!

This is a lovely biography of Canadian born Robert Bateman, a very famous artist, who paints the natural world around him. His paintings are so realistic that they look like actual photographs. He is gifted beyond measure. From a little boy he loves to observe nature, study its shapes, textures and colours and then reproduce his findings in his sketch book and then onto canvas.

He uses his extraordinary talents to promote environmental issues and to highlight the wonder and splendor of our Mother Earth. The storyline is simple and the artwork throughout is outstanding. The book encourages the reader to open his eyes and connect with his surroundings. The book inspires readers to get involved and protect our cosmos to their utmost ability. Bateman's paintings are a true celebration of our magnificent planet that we call home. The author includes a more detailed biography of Bateman's life at the back of the book for those desiring to know more about his artistic genius and his advocation for all things natural. I highly recommend this book.

Robert Bateman: The Boy Who Painted Nature tells the story of a young Canadian boy who fell in love with the natural world surrounding him. That fueled his other interest: painting, and a beautiful marriage was formed. Although a picture book, the language is rich, and pairs well with the beautiful paintings of the book's namesake. I loved that the photographs of Mr. Bateman were also included. They gave a personal touch and only enhanced the story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orca Book Publishing for an Advanced Copy of this Book
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3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book about Robert Bateman, Canadian painter, naturalist, and conservationist, even though I'd never heard of him before reading it. The best part is the artwork -- the book includes several of his paintings of animals, natural sights, and people exploring, and they're beautifully realistic. Some of them I could hardly believe weren't photographs at first glance.

The text is fairly spare and straightforward, and focuses on his observations and growth as a painter -- in many cases it simply names different things that he painted, so this book would work well for young children with short attention spans, though the artwork should appeal to all ages. At the end there's a longer biography of Bateman's life and work.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

Filled with reproductions of Robert Bateman’s paintings, sketches, and photographs, this book celebrates his delight in nature and his desire to share it with others. Told with an eye for descriptive detail, the writing captured Bateman’s enthusiasm for studying nature. A visual feast of his work, skillfully told.