Customer Reviews

Linnea in Monet's Garden

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book to my 5 year old and my 3 year old and they both love it. What a wonderful way to introduce art to them and learn a lot about Monet and his family myself. My five year old really loves the book, she can't wait to go to the Museum of Fine Arts and see some of the actual paintings now. This book deserves five stars, plus!

I picked this up at the home of a friend. Her little girl scampered over and, eyeing me with suspicion, said, "That's MY BOOK." Once she gave me permission to look at it if I promised to treat it carefully, I began to wish I really could steal it!
What a treasure. Linnea in Monet's Garden is a way to introduce children (about age 6-10, I'd say) to the appreciation of Impressionist art. The book includes photographs and drawings of Monet's home and family, a story of his life, and full-color reproductions of many of his paintings. Linnea is taken to Giverny by the elderly Mr. Bloom and, as she is entranced by all things Monet, so will you be, too.
Buy two copies: one for yourself and one for a young friend.

It was six years ago that I stumbled into Linea's story when strolling into a little sea-side bookshop in Ocean City, NJ. (This little book kept me sneaking back in day after day.) Over these years I have had the priviledge to dream alongside of friends young and old. Just last Spring ('99) I was struck with such amazement as I meandered through Monet's home and gardens, so much the space was familiar. KUDOS to Ms. Bjork and Ms. Anderson for their wonderful and creative work! I was truly amazed by the thoroughness and creativity . . . all the book is missing is the scents of Giverny. (And by no means do I suggest a scratch and sniff version!) I can't wait to share this with my children someday. Hopefully Linea will become a family tradition!

Linnea, a young Swedish girl has developed quite a friendship with the elderly Mr. Bloom, her upstairs neighbor. Mr. Bloom is a retired gardener who is the proud owner of a lovely book about the great French artist, Claude Monet. After hours and hours of studying Monet and his life, the pair begin the ultimate adventure: a trip to Paris, and where it all began! Linnea and Mr. Bloom visit the Marmottan museum to observe the many paintings of Monet. They study his artwork and how the genius painted. They learn about other Impressionist artists--many who were great friends of Monet. Eventually the young child and elderly gentleman make the ultimate trek to Giverny, where Monet lived and painted.
This book could almost be a 'fun' textbook. The artwork, both of the author's and of Monet's is absolutely exquisite. Becoming familiar with Monet's life and his paintings become a marvelous art history lesson. As an adult, I not enjoyed reading this lovely book but I learned a lot. In fact, a few days after reading LINNEA in Monet's Garden I was watching a Sex in the City episode where Charlotte was showing a group of people one of Monet's 'lily' murals. Being familiar with that painting because of this book was an exciting moment for me!

Linnea in Monet's Garden is one of those books which will be loved by all ages through the ages. The reader journeys along with young Linnea and her neighbor, Mr. Bloom, first to Paris and then Giverny to see the painter Monet's home and gardens. Providing the story of Monet't life with words and wonderful illustrations, it is as if the reader is standing on one of the bridges viewing the water lillies in person.

For those readers who have had the opportunity to see Giverny and the gardens in person it will be a special treat to read this book and reminisce. And for those who haven't been there and read this book, certainly it will provide a wonderful travel destination in the future. At the very least I imagine it will have most readers looking for an art book to view more of Monet's paintings or visiting a musuem which has his works.

Linnea in Monet's Garden is a book written by Christina Bjørk, and illustrated by Lene Anderson, both come from Sweden.

The book tells the story of Linnea, a small Swedish girl, and her old friend and neighbour, Mr. Bloom. Linnea and Mr. Bloom share a love for paintings and for flowers, and Claude Monet is a painter they both love. Together they decide to visit Paris, and Monet's garden in Giverny, and with the help of this book we can go with them on this journey.

The book is first of all a beautiful, everyday story about two friends visiting the house and garden of a beloved painter. But it is also a masterpiece in the way it is built up. The way the story, the information about the impressionist period in art, the pictures and paintings all melt together. I and my 6 years old daughter can never get tired of the book, and after reading it an uncountable number of times we both felt that we knew the garden in Giverny. It was a very special day for us then, last summer when we were able to visit Giverny, the house and the garden. We could walk around seeing the same sights as Linnea had seen, sit on the bench together with both Monet and Linnea, walk over the Japanese bridge, and take pictures of all the flowers Linnea had also photographed.

Though this book is first of all a book for children it is a treasure for all ages. A pure joy to read over and over again.

Britt Arnhild Lindland

Linnea is a little girl who travels with her neighbor to Paris to see Monet's paintings. Delighted by what she sees, Linnea goes with her neighbor to Giverny to see Monet's wonderful home and gardens. This delightful book has the animated Linnea prancing along in the grounds at Giverny, which are presented in photographs. She learns and explains everything she sees; her sparkling "personality" makes Monet and his art come alive for young readers. Linnea is a joy! She can be purchased as a doll as well.

My father in law gave this to my daughter when she was in grade school. We read it over and over and both loved it. When my daughter was 9 we went with her grandpa to Washington DC to the National Gallery to see as many Monets as she could. Just like Linnea she got close to the paintings and then moved back for perspective. Her dream was to go to Monet's garden.

In 2000 my father in law died suddenly. Still the dream lived on--hers and mine to see Monet's garden. This year, when she graduated from college, she and I took a trip to London and Paris. And we took the train to Vernon and went to Giverny. It was the hottest day I ever remember surviving but I have to say that the beauty of the gardens were beyond our expectations.

While there we lived many "Linnea" moments, including my getting a picture of her on the famous Japanese bridge. It felt like my father in law, Linnea and Monet were with us all day.

Linnea sparked the dream and we learned about art along the way!

In Sweden where I come from we have alot of books about Linnea, but this one is one of the greatest. If you can find the others ones in english or in an other language, do buy them. Just to tell you something about them: theres one about when she is planting and making flowers groving and one there she is baking and learning kids about kitchen stuff. The authors of Linnea books has also wrote books about Linus and Maja, try and find them, you will enjoy asmuch..

This book is a good depiction of Monet's work and his technique. We liked how it was from a child's point of view. Some positives of the book were that it was a real setting and there were actual photographs of Monet and his family. There were even examples of his work. All and all, we would recommend this book to anyone.