Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin [Paperback]

Marguerite Henry (Author), Rea Berg (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 2008 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

"Today Benjamin West is remembered because he was the father of American painting; and many like to think of him as the only American ever to become President of the Royal Academy of England. But I like to remember him as the boy who wanted so very much to paint that he dug his colors out of the ground and made his brushes from his cat's tail."--Marguerite Henry Benjamin West grew up in a deeply religious Quaker family, where Quaker beliefs forbid the creation of images. But little Benjamin was born with an extraordinary gift--a gift of creating paintings of people, animals, and landscapes so true to life they "took one's breath away." How Benjamin's dilemma is solved makes for a delightful biography enhanced with Henry's whimsical illustrations.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Beautiful Feet Books (November 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893103293
• ISBN-13: 978-1893103290
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #514,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marguerite Henry is the beloved author of such classic horse stories as King of the Wind, Misty of Chincoteague, and Stormy: Misty's Foal, all of which are available in Aladdin paperback editions.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Children's Biography, January 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin (Paperback)

Marguerite Henry has a wonderful style of writing that keeps children's attention as they read. This is an excellent biography of a famous artist, and one that any child or adult would truly enjoy (whether or not they were interested in art). Where else can you learn of the ingenuity of a young boy, willing to use hair from his cat's tail to make his own paint brushes. I have read the majority of the books written by Marguerite Henry, and would highly recommend this one as one of her best.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful children's biography, January 31, 2001

By 

"lmmeier" (Reeseville, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin (Paperback)

The biography of Benjamin West is a treat for any young person. The author's presentation of Quaker life is informative and accurate, and her style encourages the reader to keep reading. Benjamin West's childhood is well represented as he works, plays, and grows up in colonial America. His strength of character is revealed as he struggles with his desire to paint and draw while living in a culture that views pictures as frivolous and unnecessary. I have read this book with elementary students several times and they are always delighted with the story and learn a great deal about this American artist. Anyone who loves Marguerite Henry's horse stories will enjoy this biography as well.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Benjamin West, February 17, 2007

By 

N. B. Cummings "art aficionado" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin (Paperback)

Benjamin West, displayed natural talent in drawing and painting. These talents were not acceptable in that time because they were not practical.Because of its unusual nature, his talents were subject for discussion @ the weekly Friends Meeting and it was concluded that his talent was God-given and he should be allowed to pursue this special ability. Marguerite Henry has written a very readable chapter book for children, but its also fascinating for adults. The references indicate that she carried out research [c. 10 professional sources]so that it is historically accurate. I remembered some of this background from my grammar school classes in Phildelphia and found, from the depths of my memory, Benjamin West and His Cat, and found it came from a book still in print. I ordered the book from Amazon, read it late one night on returning from the ballet, and still found it captivating. Not only do I recommend this for children, but adults should find it intriguing--and written with clarity.