A volume that continues in the vein of Lehn’s marvelous What Is a Scientist? (Millbrook, 1998) pairs simple, definitive statements about the types of things that an artist does with full-page color photographs of a child or children engaged in a related activity. “An artist gets inspiration and support from others” is one such statement, paired with a photograph of young Luke painting with his dad. “How can I show the fireman inside the truck?” asks Luke. What Is an Artist? demystifies the “artist” label, breaking it down into ways of thinking, feeling and doing that any child can understand and claim. Another new volume by this author/photographer pair is What Is an Athlete? (lib: 0-7613-2258-2), while What Is a Teacher was published in 2000. (Ages 4-7)

Simple text and photographs depict young people engaged in activities that embody the qualities of an artist.