Cezanne and the Apple Boy: (Anholt's Artists)

This brand-new title in Laurence Anholt's beautifully illustrated children's series of stories about famous artists recounts a wonderful adventure experienced by Paul, a little boy who is named after his father, Paul Cézanne. The elder Cézanne had been away from home for so long that the boy has difficulty recognizing his father when he joins him on a painting expedition in the mountains of southern France. They quickly become fast friends, and the artist takes great pleasure in painting a portrait of his apple-cheeked son. Most of his paintings, however, are landscapes of the mountain country where they are camping, although the people who live nearby often laugh at the artist's pictures, which they think are poor. But young Paul admires his father's work--and he is not alone. A picture dealer from Paris happens to be in the region, and when he sees Cézanne's paintings, he thinks they are wonderful. Before long, Cézanne becomes famous and wealthy. The story, enhanced with Laurence Anholt's illustrations on every page, include several that are reproductions of Cézanne's famous paintings.

About the Author :
Laurence Anholt's popular books for children have been published in 15 different languages, including Cantonese, Hebrew, and Icelandic. As both an author and an accomplished illustrator, he has created a charming series of children's stories about famous artists. He and his wife Catherine, both successful authors of juvenile titles, have three children, from whom they get many of their story ideas. They live and work in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England.

Review :
"In this solid addition to Anholt's Artists series, Paul Cézanne invites his son to visit him in the countryside. Steeped in metaphor (mountain and apple themes recur), Anholt's dialogue-driven narrative successfully reveals the painter's eccentricities and his bond with his son. The book's layered illustrations include reproductions of Cézanne's paintings incorporated into Anholt's watercolors, many of which feature the Provence landscapes so prominent in the painter's work. Anholt gives several nods to Cézanne masterpieces, as when father and son sit on a ledge overlooking the panorama depicted in Mont Sainte-Victoire and two men in a cafe mimic the subjects of The Card Players." --Publisher's Weekly, November 2009 "The narrative flows naturally and deals with some difficult issues. . . in an age-appropriate and sensitive fashion. . . . Anholt's charming watercolor and pen illustrations re-create a time and place that will be unfamiliar to most [young] readers . . . . Most important, the title conveys the idea that artists are real people fulfilling a purpose that may not be understood in the context of their everyday lives." --School Library Journal ". . . this charming introduction to Paul Cezanne highlights the artist's relationship with his son. . . . Evocative, realistic illustrations mix with reproductions of Cezanne's works and. . . will draw kids into this enjoyable, informative portrayal of Cezanne as both a father and an influential artist." --Booklist