The Painter Who Loved Chickens [Paperback]

Olivier Dunrea (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Brilliant, sun-drenched illustrations filled with witty details chronicle the trials and tribulations of an artist who struggles along, painting people, poodles, and penguins, until he is discovered by a true art-lover.

"It's a zany story, a joyful celebration of following your dream."-Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The hero of this quiet but inspiring picture book has a secret, quirky ambition. He longs to leave the city, where he earns a modest living by painting fine portraits of "people, penguins and poodles," and buy a farm where he can paint his favorite subject: chickens. But just when it seems that chicken-painting will remain a hobby, the artist's work impresses a wealthy customer (and fellow fowl aficionado) and the direction of his life changes. Dunrea's (Deep Down Underground) unassuming text straightforwardly conveys his emotion-filled, clearly delineated story. His sunny gouache paintings, liberally splashed with oranges, yellows and reds, are a chicken-lover's delight-each page features a tiny portrait of a variety of fowl, e.g., Blue Cochin or Black Langshan, in addition to plenty of whimsical chicken-related decoration. Full-page illustrations, meanwhile, provide an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at an artist at work. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?Dunrea recounts the story of Moel Eyris, a Dutch artist who is forced to live in the city and paint poodles, penguins, and people in order to make ends meet. He'd rather be surrounded by and devote his talents to his favorite subjects?chickens. A patron of the arts who happens into his studio and knows something special when she sees it demands to purchase his in-progress portrait of an egg. One thing leads to another, and a deal is struck: she gets his chicken paintings, and he gets a farm. Carefully composed gouache scenes are executed in a palette largely comprised of oranges, rusts, and browns. Facing each full-page illustration is a page of text on white, above which is a portrait of a chicken, exquisitely rendered and full of texture and detail. The story is most interesting when the patron discusses the egg; the conversation comes to life through her enthusiasm for the fresh, the atypical. It is otherwise difficult to warm up to the unhappy, eccentric painter who, despite his poverty, hesitates to sell his latest creation. He changes his mind, however, when the woman writes a check for "an enormous amount of money." The understated conclusion is not much to cluck about either. It is clear that the painter becomes famous; his affection for the chickens is not as successfully demonstrated or explained. Readers are therefore left with an odd sense of dissatisfaction. Mary Hoffman's Amazing Grace (Dial, 1991) and Karen Barbour's Little Nino's Pizzeria (Harcourt, 1991) present characters whose passions propel them into action and whose dreams are more accessible.?Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (March 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374457085
• ISBN-13: 978-0374457082
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,186,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Olivier Dunrea is the creator of beautiful and well-loved children's books. A painter and a sculptor, his work centers around medieval farms, farm animals, architecture, and folklore. He lives in a 100 year old Arts and Crafts house in a tiny, remote mountain village on the western edge of the Catskills Mountains. More of Olivier's art and life can be seen at www.olivierdunrea.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book That Escapes Every Children's Book Cliche, May 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Painter Who Loved Chickens (Paperback)

I stumbled upon "The Painter Who Loved Chickens" six months ago and was entranced. This gentle, charming story lets kids know that it is okay to be different and that it is good to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Best of all, Dunrea's book manages to get its "follow your dreams" message across in a way that is very genuine and non-preachy. My son, a very precocious reader, was four and a half when I gave it to him and the book rapidly became one of his favorites. I'm a playwright and songwriter who pays the bills by writing advertising and marketing copy. This book will endure as one of my favorites, too.

5.0 out of 5 stars I love chickens!, March 30, 2008

By 

R. Fritschle (Pensacola, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

What a great book for a budding chicken lover or the fowl connoisseur in your life! Each page is illustrated with a different heritage breed of chicken, while the story drawings are done primitive style. Eye-catching for children and adults alike, the story reads smoothly for bedtime stories or a quick perusal