| Author: Joan MacPhail Knight,
illustrator: Melissa Sweet |
Charlotte in Giverny --
It's 1892 and Charlotte is
bound for Monet's famous
artist colony in Giverny,
France, where painters like
her father are flocking to
learn the new style of painting
called Impressionism. In
spite of missing her best
friend, Charlotte becomes
enchanted with France and
records her colorful experiences
in her journal. She makes
new friends, plants a garden,
learns to speak French, and
even attends the wedding
of Monsieur Monet's daughter!
Illustrated with beautiful
museum reproductions and
charming watercolor collages,
Charlotte in Giverny includes
a French glossary as well
as biographical sketches
of the featured painters.
This delightful journal of
a young girl's exciting year
will capture readers' imaginations
and leave a lasting impression.
|
From Kirkus Reviews
A fictional
diary captures the Giverny
of 1892
through
the eyes of its little-girl
owner, in this charmingly
constructed conceit. In a
format full of illustrations
of famous Impressionist paintings,
winsome watercolors, and
collage bits of ribbon, lace,
flower petals, and cards
labeled with their French
names, we read about Charlottes
visit to France. She writes
about her voyage from Boston,
her stay at the Baudy Hotel,
the French gardener and maid,
her neighbors and her tutor.
She is fascinated by the
glimpsed courtship of Theodore
Butler and Suzanne, the daughter
of Monet, who lives nearby.
Other more or less well-known
American Impressionists pass
through Giverny and Charlottes
journal: William Merritt
Chase; John Singer Sargent;
Lilla Cabot Perry; and Mariquita
Gill. A lot of information
about life in Giverny and
about painting en plein air
is imparted painlessly in
a font resembling very neat
handwriting. The illustrations
are simply irresistible.
Linnea in Monets Garden focuses
on that artist and his splendid
creations; this would make
a natural pairing with it.
Credits for the reproductions,
brief biographical sketches
of all the artists, and an
authors note are appended. |
|
| Age: 8 and up |
16.95 (hardcover)
 |
|
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