Customer Reviews

When Pigasso Met Mootisse

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Pigasso Met Mootisse is a wonderful parody detailing the rivalry, feuding and eventual friendship of artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Nina Laden's creative and witty text, full of wordplay and puns, will have adults and children alike, laughing out loud and also offers the subtle lesson of acceptance and respect for others and their work. But, it's her bold, bright, busy and humorous illustrations that will mesmerize youngsters and older art lovers will enjoy finding the "pig" and "bull" representations of Picasso's and Matisse's best known works. The biographical afterword, discussing their lives, painting and relationship, will enhance the story and give children a better understanding of these two great artists. This is a marvelous, vivid picture book, perfect for kids 4-8; a hilarious story for the ears and a visual feast for the eyes.

It is not often that one finds a book that is either visually charming or provides an elegant introduction to art history at an early learners level or teaches an eloquent moral lesson. To find a book that does all three is a gift.

This terrific book recounts the rivalry and eventual friendship of Picasso and Matisse, er, ah, excuse me...I meant, Pigasso and Mootisse. The protagonists in this story live across the street from each other and first hurl insults like,"You paint like a wild beast", (that's called "fauvism" for all you art lovers or snobs out there!) while Mootisse retorts, "You are pig-headed". Throughout, the paint and puns fly.
Beautiful visuals and a great afterward that tell the "real" story of Picasso and Matisse complete this utterly charming book. A good intro to art world for the little ones, as well as a lesson on the power of friendship and tolerance.

This picture book is a "moosterpiece" in itself, or a "pork of art!":) The playful illustrations in their bright contrasting colors and shapes have great kid appeal. It is a terrific selection to share with children as it highlights the life-long rules of respecting one another's differences and honoring companionship. It is a sure win with adults who also could benefit from a reminder of those rules and who will be chuckling aloud in between the clever puns. In addition art lovers of all ages will have so much fun discovering all of the silly representations of a few 20th century painters' greatest works. Laden really did an outstanding job capturing the contrasting styles of Picasso and Matisse. All of her little details really enhance the beauty of the book -- especially cute are the fly pages inside the cover with their collection of facial expressions of both painters.

I highly recommend this book to library shelves everywhere and to every pair of hands, small and large, young and old! Truly outstanding!

This book is my daughter's favorite. We have read it every day for the past 9 or so months and she has most of the punch lines memorized, (e.g., "mootisse was not like the other bulls" "it was a modern art mess" "the silence was broken" "i'm tired of this crowded cow town"). After reading it the first time, she said she wanted to draw with paint. And she did. Now we do watercolors all the time and she knows that Picasso and Matisse were great artists. This book provided a fun and funny way for her to learn about two art masters and their styles while also teaching a lesson about conflict resolution.

We have taken this book on flights across the country and overseas. The illustrations and the story engage my daughter to no end. The description of this book is for 4-8 year olds but unlike Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden (also a funny, well-illustrated book), I find Pigasso/Mootisse to be appropriate for a younger {pre}reader as well. I'm back to buy more copies as gifts for all the kids that I know.

Nina Laden, When Pigasso Met Mootisse (Chronicle, 1998)

Nina Laden's books may have originally been written for the preschool set, but people of all ages have been finding them wonderful for years. This one's no exception.

When Pigasso Met Mootisse takes the factual rivalry between the two brilliant painters, bolsters it with a bunch of sight gags and groanworthy puns, and turns it into a fun little art lesson for both kids and adults.

If you don't know Laden's stuff, this one's a great one to check out. ****

I saw this while visiting the wonderful Dali Museum in St. Petersburg Florida. The story is simple enough for small kids to understand, but not TOO simple for older kids or the adults reading the book.

When my daughter was quite small she liked the pictures. Then she liked the story. Then she started to understand that there was a PICasso and MAtisse. I think soon she will start to appreciate the satire, and the ingeneous illustration: some pages in "Pigasso's" style and other pages in "Mootisse's" style.

I honestly believe this book contributed to her deep interest in art; I cannot think of higher praise than that!

P.S. Also get "Camille and the Sunflowers" which is another winner

"When Pigasso Met Mootisse" is a fun children's book that plays on the interesting relationship of Picasso and Matisse. Nina Laden depicts them as hilarious charactertures of a pig with cubist leanings and a bull who paints like "a wild beast". They escape the hectic art world and become neighbors, but end up feuding when they start criticizing one another's work. They eventually...I can't give away the whole story here.

This bright and colorful children's book is visually charming and loaded with verbal and visual puns.

My son and I LOVE reading this book...I get a kick out of the art history puns and the sophisticated content and he loves the pictures and the story of Pigasso and Mootisse (both of which he now says frequently). I highly recommend it and would say it's one of my favorites.

Whether your kid knows who Picasso is or not, this is a fun play on Famous Artists and their feuding ways. My Kindergartener loves this book.