Customer Reviews

A Blue Butterfly: A Story About Claude Monet

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When fall comes, so do the books. It is approximated that almost 2,000 children's books will be printed this fall. Of this mass number, perhaps a handful--a very small handful-- are actually worth reading to a young child night after night. Bijou Le Tord's A Blue Butterfly: A Story about Claude Monet, is part of this handful.

The book came out in 1995, yet it still holds my attention and respect. What sets this book apart from other biographies about the artist and other children's books is its celebratory nature. Its luminescent art work invites parents and children to revisit the art and life of Claude Monet. It captures the essence of art in its warm colors, creating a soft aura of beauty that encloses the reader even after the book is finished.

Anybody interested in sharing art with a young child or sharing the life of an artist should purchase this book. Not only do readers learn about an early twentieth century artist, but they also get to share in the joy of a contemporary artist, Bijou Le Tord.

The book is written in the style of a poem. The poem tells a lot about Monet, where he painted and what he painted. The author also painted the illustrations, which are beautiful. She includes Monet in the illustrations. I read this book to a class of first graders and they loved it. We then attempted to make our own Monet paintings by using our finger tips. (They used their finger tips to cover an entire page with color) The children were inspired by the book and the illustrations. I felt that the book provided a lot of basic information about Monet and is great learning tool for young children.

I have always been bedazzled by Monet's painting and his home, Giverny. This book is another wonderful way to share Monet's gifts with young children. As a first-grade teacher, I appreciate the ideas suggested by the teacher below who shared her method for offering Monet to young children. An exceptional treasure to enjoy over and over again!

My 5 yr old daughter and I picked this up at the library and what a find! This is a book of delightful watercolor illustrations of Monet out in the field, in a garden, by the sea. The pictures are so pleasant and very reminiscent of Monet's work, and the few lines that accompany the drawings are perfect for young children. I heartily recommend this book.