Picasso and Minou [Hardcover]

P. I. Maltbie (Author), Pau Estrada (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Minou was the name of Pablo Picasso's cat. An author's note and photograph help to confirm this detail, while spelling out the fictional and factual elements of this slice-of-life story from the artist's Blue and Rose Periods. The feline has finicky taste; he does not care for the somber, gaunt figures and the suffering conveyed in the artist's monochromatic palette during the early 20th century. When the paintings do not sell, the artist is forced to turn his companion loose to find his own food. The animal's quest leads to dinner and friends in the form of carnival performers, a device used by Maltbie to explain Picasso's new subject material and to segue into a fresh color scheme. The gouache, pencil, and watercolor scenes are skillful renderings of the young painter, a variety of canvases, and the characters and settings that inspired his work. Estrada's blue/gray filter on Picasso's Paris is evident without becoming oppressive. The harlequins and gymnasts are a welcome burst of climactic color until the denouement when Minou has another change to confront: Cubism. This effective introduction offers a historically accurate explanation regarding the Blue Period as well as an engaging story. Age-appropriate background on Picasso's life and artistic choices may be found in Kate Scarborough's well-illustrated Pablo Picasso (Watts, 2002).–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Minou, a robust Siamese cat, lives with young Pablo Picasso in a tiny Montmartre studio. He's not fond of Picasso's latest work--the bleak, sorrowful paintings from the Blue Period that won't sell. When the money runs out, Picasso sends Minou into the streets to find his own food, and the resourceful cat trots home with sausages donated by a boisterous crowd of circus performers. A delighted Picasso follows Minou back to the circus, where the artist is inspired to paint a series of joyous, rosy paintings, which are a huge success. Picasso sees sadness everywhere, and the artist's struggle to survive is real. But Maltbie balances the gloom with a sweet friendship story that ends successfully, while Estrada's detailed pencil, watercolor, and gouache illustrations beautifully capture the Montmartre scene, the expressive cat and artist, and Picasso's work, arranged around the gloriously cluttered studio. An author's note, which reveals the factual elements in the story, is accompanied by a small photograph of Picasso with the real Minou. A lovely introduction to Picasso's work and to an artist's life. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570916209
• ISBN-13: 978-1570916205
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CHARMING STORY OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN, March 30, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Picasso and Minou (Hardcover)

Budding young artists and adults will be drawn to this touching story of Picasso. Set in Paris during Picasso's Blue Period when the artist struggled to sell his paintings, the tale is part fact, part fiction.

It's true that these paintings were deemed sad by many and did not sell. It's also true that Picasso lived in a garret in Montmarte where he took in a street cat he called Minou (French for kitty). The rest comes from the artist's imagination.

Our story opens with Picasso so poor that he cannot buy enough food for both Minou and himself. So he sadly returns Minou to the streets where the poor cat is booted from a restaurant and finds only stale bread in the trash.

Minou's luck changes when he wanders into a part of Montmarte that is new to him and finds people dressed in colorful clothes. To his amazement these people jumped, twirled, juggled and did all manner of wonderful tricks. Soon, a little girl found him and brought him a plate of bread and stew. Minou made short work of that, so she brought him a sausage. However, "Instead of eating the sausage, Minou held it in his mouth and ran toward Pablo's studio."

Of course, Picasso was delighted to have some food and also happy to see Minou. Eventually, Minou led the artist to the people who wore all colors of the rainbow and Picasso was so enchanted that he decided to paint them. He used colors of pink and rose, signaling the beginning of Picasso's Rose Period.

The author's note includes a photo of the young Picasso and Minou. Artist Pau Estrada prepared well for illustrating "Picasso and Minou" by visiting the Museu Picasso in Barcelona and the Musee National Picasso in Paris. Estrada's watercolor illustrations are rich with the colors Picasso used during his Blue and Rose periods, adding authenticity and vivacity to this charming story.

- Gail Cooke

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful., June 19, 2009

By 

Heidi Ernst - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Picasso and Minou (Paperback)

Each image in this book is so rich. When I read it to my daughter, I always get sidetracked looking at all the detail and the amazing colors and the way the artist conveys so many different moods. I love the section in the back that talks about the paintings referenced in the book too.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning!, January 27, 2005

By 

FurryMuse - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picasso and Minou (Hardcover)

This glorious debut book by a talented children's author is filled with stunning artwork. More than that, the delightful story (based on true events) is masterful and evocative. The story of a special relationship between Picasso and Minou, a street-wise and loving feline, touched and intrigued me as both a cat lover and art lover. BRAVO, and may this book be the first of many successful works!

--Amy D. Shojai, author 21 pet care books and a founder of the Cat Writers' Association