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Show Me the Monet is available on Amazon here.
{I purchased this game myself. All opinions are my own!}
Read on for a detailed REVIEW.
To make the most of Art Appreciation Month {August}, I wanted a game that provided a fun and different way to review some of the world’s most classic masterpieces. I need to admit that I was not overly hopeful of finding something that would work, but I did!
In addition to reviewing the
FUN FACTOR
and the
EDUCATIONAL VALUE,
I will also include info on the
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT,
SKILLS EXPOSED TO & USED,
CLARITY LEVEL
and an
OVERALL SCORE.
NAME: Show Me the Monet
PUBLISHER: Clarkson Potter
TIME COMMITMENT: Minimal+ {20-30 minutes}
PLAYERS: 2-6
AGES: 10+
CATEGORY: Art History
SKILLS EXPOSED TO:
- famous artists
- classic pieces of art
- historical collections of art
- monetary value of art collections
SKILLS PRACTICED:
- reading
- strategy
- addition
HOW TO WIN: Create the most valuable art collection by saving art pieces you want and trading those you don’t.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT: ♥♥♥♥♥ To say that the entire way this game was packaged is a work of art is not only a clever choice of words, ha ha, it’s also entirely valid! The 6″x 5″x 2″ hinged box is both truly gorgeous and highly functional. The instructions book is presented like an art auction catalog and the 50+ art cards are in full color and of high quality. The presentation of the game, and the content itself, allows this to be considered not only an educational game, but also one worthy of being a gift for adult birthdays and housewarming events. ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT SCORE: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥
FUN FACTOR: ♥♥♥♥♥ The classic topic and classy packaging did not give me the highest expectations of a fun, laugh-out loud game but I was wrong. Half of our laughs were caused by my son’s mispronunciations of the artists names and the way he categorized the artists {“self-absorbed lady with weird accessories” for Kahlo and “dude who likes dancers” for Degas,} but no matter why we laughed, we both had fun! Plus, we truly had fun trying to analyze why some pieces were worth so much {Botticelli’s $300,000,000 stark work for instance} compared to others {one of the beauties by Monet was a mere $35,000,000!} FUN FACTOR SCORE: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥
EDUCATIONAL LEVEL: ♥♥♥♥♥ Though not marketed as an educational game, I consider it to fit the bill quite well. In addition to providing an essential exposure to a variety of beautiful and historical art, it also focuses on grouping the pieces by artist, genre and country. It also introduces the players to the concept of art collecting and the monetary value placed on such masterpieces. It also requires players to strategize, which I consider a very valuable skill to practice. EDUCATIONAL LEVEL SCORE: 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥
CLARITY LEVEL: ♥♥♥♥_ The instructions come in a precious little book that reminds me of an art auction catalog. But while the instructions are very clear and simple, we found them to be a little too simple. We had a few logistical questions which the book did not address. We ended up answering our own questions by making up our own rules, but still felt like we were missing a few key components. But, it is VERY EASY to play. It’s basically a fancy version of “go fish” with a need to strategize to increase your chances of winning. CLARITY LEVEL SCORE: 4/5 ♥♥♥♥_
OVERALL SCORE: ♥♥♥♥♥ Show Me the Monet is a brilliant way to expose your kids to the world of art! And if your kids already have a basic understanding of these masterpieces, this game allows them to take it to the next level by focusing on collections based on style, origin and more. OVERALL SCORE: 95% ♥♥♥♥♥
