Cézanne’s Parrot
by
Amy Guglielmo
illustrated by
Brett Helquist
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Penguin Random House
Imprint
G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN
9780525515081
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
All Cézanne wants is to be a great painter like his friends Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir. But when he shows his works, the professors, the critics, and the collectors all dismiss him: “Too flat!” “Too much paint!” “These are rough and unfinished!” Even his own pet parrot, Bisou, can’t be brought to say, “Cézanne is a great painter!” And who can blame them?Cézanne doesn’t care about tradition, and he doesn’t follow the rules. He’s painting in a way no one else has done before, creating something completely new—and he’s destined to change the world of art forever.
Cézanne’s Parrot is a spirited celebration of creativity, determination, and perseverance—and the artist who would become known as the father of modern art.Author’s note. Selected bibliography. Source notes. List of Paul Cézanne’s paintings shown in book. Full-color illustrations done in oil.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Details
Format
Page Count
40
Trim Size
11" x 9"
Dewey
F
AR
0: points 0
Lexile
AD800L
Genre
Nonfic
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Apr 2020
Book Genres
Picture Book
Topics
Paul Cézanne (1839–1906). French artists. Painting. Parrots. Nineteenth-century French history.
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
In this picture book biography, struggling artist Cezanne and his parrot, Bisou, live together in the French countryside. Cezanne’s work has been poorly received by art critics in Paris. He is surrounded by a circle of high-achieving artists, but gains no popularity when he bucks tradition by working more slowly than his peers, choosing common, everyday subjects to feature, and by painting with bold confidence instead of refined delicacy. Rather than imitate his predecessors, Cezanne wants to try something new. He seeks to bolster his self-esteem by asking Bisou to say “Cezanne is a great painter,” but even the bird stubbornly refuses, displaying a humorous apathy towards all attempts to train him to speak. The artist’s life changes overnight when he is invited to exhibit with a like-minded group of creatives and then returns to work with a rejuvenated spirit of determination. The resulting still lifes of fruit are so winsome that Bisou approves. Exquisitely painted illustrations are paired with the text; of particular note are an early spread of Cezanne working with Bisou in a meadow and an impressive series depicting the artist laboring in nine different attitudes. The illustration is everything one would want in a book about Cezanne: bold brushstrokes, heavy lines, and a color scheme that incorporates many of the browns, blues, and greens reminiscent of Cezanne’s own artistic sensibilities. Helquist skillfully expresses Cezanne’s changing feelings of worry, defeat, and eventual triumph by employing carefully crafted facial expressions and body postures to convey what the artist is thinking. Helquist’s depiction of Bisou is equally expressive and animated, with great detailing in the feathers. This brilliantly illustrated picture book shares a meaningful message about how to handle criticism, being true to yourself, and finding your crew. Recommended for nonfiction collections.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-In this picture book biography, struggling artist Cezanne and his parrot, Bisou, live together in the French countryside. Cezanne's work has been poorly received by art critics in Paris. He is surrounded by a circle of high-achieving artists, but gains no popularity when he bucks tradition by working more slowly than his peers, choosing common, everyday subjects to feature, and by painting with bold confidence instead of refined delicacy. Rather than imitate his predecessors, Cezanne wants to try something new. He seeks to bolster his self-esteem by asking Bisou to say "Cezanne is a great painter," but even the bird stubbornly refuses, displaying a humorous apathy towards all attempts to train him to speak. The artist's life changes overnight when he is invited to exhibit with a like-minded group of creatives and then returns to work with a rejuvenated spirit of determination. The resulting still lifes of fruit are so winsome that Bisou approves. Exquisitely painted illustrations are paired with the text; of particular note are an early spread of Cezanne working with Bisou in a meadow and an impressive series depicting the artist laboring in nine different attitudes. The illustration is everything one would want in a book about Cezanne: bold brushstrokes, heavy lines, and a color scheme that incorporates many of the browns, blues, and greens reminiscent of Cezanne's own artistic sensibilities. Helquist skillfully expresses Cezanne's changing feelings of worry, defeat, and eventual triumph by employing carefully crafted facial expressions and body postures to convey what the artist is thinking. Helquist's depiction of Bisou is equally expressive and animated, with great detailing in the feathers. VERDICT This brilliantly illustrated picture book shares a meaningful message about how to handle criticism, being true to yourself, and finding your crew. Recommended for nonfiction collections.-Lauren Younger, University of Dallas Library
Grades 2-6
Arts Elementary Plus
For Grades 2-6
These art-themed fiction and nonfiction books will foster a love of the arts among elementary readers. Enhance your arts program monthly will 12 books per year in this category.
14 books per Year
$297.36 per Year
Interests
Biographies,Diversity,Nonfiction,Science/STEAM
Grades 2-6
Arts Elementary Plus
14 books per Year
$297.36 per Year
