Who Was Claude Monet? Book

Claude Monet is considered one of the most influential artists of all time. He is a founder of the French Impressionist art movement, and today his paintings sell for millions of dollars. While Monet was alive, however, his work was often criticized and he struggled financially. With over one hundred black-and-white illustrations, this book unveils a true portrait of the artist!

Children's Literature

The "Who Was ?" series presents biographies of famous, historical people. In this title, middle graders learn about a famous French Impressionist painter. The first four pages introduce Monet and his method of painting outdoors. In the succeeding chapters, Monet's life is explained from boyhood until his death in 1926. Readers will learn that he was interested in drawing from an early age, that he became a soldier and served his country in Africa, and that his most famous paintings were painted in and around his country home, Giverny. Here Monet and his family were content. Monet delighted in painting his garden, the poplar trees, and the beautiful water lilies in the pond. He painted them over and over at different times of the day and in all seasons. Monet also spent many hours tending to the garden that, today, exists exactly as it was during his lifetime. Throughout the book are numerous black-and-white sketches that nicely complement the text. Timelines, a bibliography, and a list of the museums where Monet painting are located add to the book's usefulness. Put this in the collection where there is a need for books on famed persons and where it will be helpful in art programs. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth