Mornings With Monet
by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary GrandPré
“Mornings With Monet” by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary GrandPré. Published by Random House. A moving tribute to the extremely creative and most loved painter Claude Monet showcasing the joy of finding new ways to observe the world around us.
Monet rejected the traditional life laid out for him and chose an uncharted path of art instead. Impressionism was in its initial stages and his work was initially dismissed for using bright colours and visible brushstrokes. After years of struggle, everyone from art dealers to collectors were lining up to see what Monet saw and painted. He however waited only for the right light. His theme was mostly the mists and moods of the river Seine near which he spent a significant amount of his life.
Monet’s day would start very early. He would go on a boat to his studio boat anchored midstream on the Seine. The book takes us through one such morning giving us a peek as to how Monet worked arduously with his brush creating a magical series of images called “Mornings on the Seine”. Chasing the sunlight, he created these images in what seemed to be an effortless way. But it wasn’t easy at all. As the light changed, he had to change his canvas to the one that was closer to that particular moment. After all art isn’t magic! It involves loads of work and determination to try. Read the book to know the inspirational story of Monet.
My 8.5 year old has enjoyed reading this book for almost a year now. He appreciated Monet’s creativity and ability to relentlessly pursue something so different. The illustrations are gorgeous and enhance the effect of the story. After reading the book and the facts section about Monet at the end, we checked out the pictures of his home, garden and works online. He now hopes to visit Monet’s picturesque house and garden in Giverny someday! There are similar books on other renowned artists like Van Gogh, Vasily Kandinsky and Chagall by the same author and illustrator duo. We have read the one on Kandinsky called “The Noisy Paint Box” and enjoyed it as well.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 5/6 and above.
Reasons to Read
The book talks about pursuing one’s dreams and passion through the example of one of the first painters of impressionist art.
The book exposes children to a prominent form of art.