Monet Paints a Day
Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone! My picture book recommendation today is…
Monet Paints a Day by Julie Danneberg (Author), Caitlin Heimerl (Illustrator), published by Charlesbridge, 2012.
Themes/Topics: Claude Monet, biography, art, passion
Opening: November 1885 Dear Alice, This morning I went under the Manneporte to paint. I want to make a success of it because it’s very beautiful, but very difficult I think.
Brief Synopsis (from Amazon): In November 1885, impressionist painter Claude Monet vacationed in Étretat, France, where he spent his days outside, painting scenes of the seaside village. One morning he rose early and carried all of his supplies and half-finished paintings out to the cliffs and rocky beach, finally stopping to paint the arch called Manneporte. Eager to capture the scene before him, and aware that he must work quickly to catch the light, Monet became so engrossed in his work that he forgot to watch the incoming tide. Based on a true incident, MONET PAINTS A DAY introduces readers to the life and nature of this illustrious impressionist. Interspersed throughout the story are excerpts from the painter’s notes and letters, while a second layer of text and back matter includes information about Impressionism as a whole.
Why I Like This Book: I love how it is a small part of Monet’s day, yet it perfectly captures his passion for art to the exclusion of all else—and how it ‘trips’ him up!
Links To Resources:
—Claude Monet Wikipedia article
To find even more awesome picture books (and browse them by theme!) visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books page.
Never miss a post—receive blog posts in your inbox.
