Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Jon Agee (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

When Felix Clousseau enters his simple portrait of a duck in the Royal Palace's annual art contest, the judges are scandalized. Then the painting quacks, and they realize they are in the presence of genius. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Who paints the most fantastic pictures in France? Is it Gaston du Stroganoff? Felicien CaffayOllay? Alphonse LeCamembair? Only when an unknown painter by the name of Clousseau paints a portrait of a duck so realistic that it quacks is the true genius of the Paris art world recognized. Clousseau's paintings have an incredible effect on the publicand no wonderpainted waterfalls flow out of the frames and onto the floor and birds fly off to new horizons. Then a boa constrictor escapes from its painting and frightens a baroness, and a painted cannon levels the building that once housed it. The unfortunate artist is sent to prison and all his artwork is seizedall except the one that hangs in the king's palace, a painting of a dog. When that dog captures a cunning jewel thief, Clousseau earns a royal pardon. Agee's enchanting tale has touches of droll Gaelic humor reminiscent of the stories of Tomi Ungerer. A well-defined drawing style is enhanced by dark, rich colors, thickly and boldly applied. Agee provides much food for the spirit with his spare storytelling and distinctive artwork. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Agee's strong solid shapes and somber colored drawings contrast with the clever and witty premise of his book. Set in Paris at the turn of the century, it recounts a grand art contest. Traditional academy painters show their grandiose masterpieces: The King on His Throne, The King on Horseback, The King in Armor. Then an unknown artist, Clousseau, shows his small painting of a duck. ``Outrageous'' is the response until the duck that he has painted quacks. All over Paris, his works come alive. A boa leaves its painting, black smoke billows from a painted volcano, and water gushes from a waterfall. Needless to say things get out of hand, and poor Clousseau lands in prison. One overlooked painting eventually saves the day. Agee's tongue-in-cheek scenario ends with a final double entendre. The outrageous yet gentle humor is sure to delight parents and children alike. Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux (J); 1st edition (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374336334
• ISBN-13: 978-0374336332
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,108,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, novel story!!, May 4, 2001

By 

Chess Heart "paxbear" (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau (Paperback)

When the Royal Palace hosts an art contest, all the great artists come out to submit their paintings, like Gaston du Stroganoff with his painting, "The King on his Throne". However, an unknown artist named Felix Closseau also enters the contest. Except where everyone else's paintings are huge and feature the king, Felix's painting is small, and is of a duck.

Considering how seriously the French take their art, you can imagine the uproar at this ridiculous painting. That is, until the duck QUACKS. Then, the duck merrily waddles OUT of the picture itself, and off on it's way. Felix wins first prize.

At first, everyone wants to own a Closseau, until disaster strikes wherever his works are hung. A painting called "The Sleeping Python" is held in high regard, until the Python wakes up one night!! Volcanoes fill rooms with smoke, waterfalls gush gallons onto the floor, Closseau himself is put into jail! That is, until one night when a thief breaks into the royal palace to steal the crown...

Jon Agee has written or illustrated over a dozen books, including books playing with language-books of oxymorons and palindromes, most noticeably. However, "The Incredible Painting..." ranks as one of my personal favorites because of it's original story and fun ending. It's story is fun, quick moving and easy to read (though beginning readers may have difficulty decoding some of the French-ish names). Closseau himself is quite a character, too: a short stooped man with beret and enormous graybeard that successfully hides his face (and most of the rest of him!). Very young children will love the fun absurdity of things coming out of the pictures, while older children will appreciate the havoc that a living painting can wreck! Fun and highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story for Artists of All Ages, August 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau (Hardcover)

An excellent story for artists of all ages. It is short and simple, with a wonderful twist at the end. I have presented this book as a gift to more than one artist friend, and the reaction has always been positive. A truly "cool" book.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an original, funny book, February 27, 2001

By 

Laurel Halbany "mythago" (Marin County) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau (Paperback)

My kids loved it; highly recommended! It's so nice to find an intelligent children's book that amuses adults.