Portrait of an Artist: Claude Monet

This children's book describes the life of renowned impressionist Claude Monet, from his childhood in Normandy to his later years in Giverny where he painted his famous water lilies. The last pages show 10 paintings with interesting background information that describe Monet's artistic evolution, inspiration and goals.

I enjoyed reading this book very much, especially because Monet is my favourite artist. I think the author and the illustrator did a fantastic job to teach children in a colourful and fun way about a very famous and gifted artist. The illustrations are gorgeous and Monet's paintings are perfectly integrated into them.
I especially liked the page about Monet moving to Giverny because I recognised his house immediately, the illustration looks exactly like the real one! I really appreciate that the illustrator included such genuine details.

I recommend this beautiful book to introduce children to art in general and Monet in particular.

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I loved about this book about Claude Monet, was that the reader also saw the masterpieces he created alongside the inspiration. This great touch, allowed the reader to see how ordinary scenes were captured by an amazing and beautiful painter, whilst educating readers too. It's simply told and informative.

This would make a great addition to any school library.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC copy.

I absolutely loved this picture book that told the story of Monet and his art. It's wonderfully illustrated, and the illustrator has done a remarkable job depicting Monet and his work. Author Lucy Brownridge tells children about Monet in a way that makes him likeable and relatable, and tells the good and bad of his life while still keeping the tone sweet and positive. Kids will get a great understanding of impressionist painting, how it evolved, and other painters who were friends and contemporaries of Monet. The end tells of some of Monet's most famous paintings. Just wonderful. I may buy this one for our homeschool library.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

A third entrant in this series for me – I didn't like the van Gogh volume, as it was too versatile with the truth, but the Frida Kahlo one was much better. The twist of the books is that while we're both shown and told about the artist subject of the book, we're also seeing their masterpieces, as if they're just freshly framed and put on the wall. Which is a bit awkward when our subject here, Monet, spent so much time working en plein air. There are far fewer walls for his pieces to be hung on! Still, we get a nice resume of his career, and his personal life, so all the basics are ticked, and we learn just as much as we need as members of this target audience about impressionism – both how new it was, and how some of it was done. A success, then.

Claude Monet is one of my favourite artists, and this book is a delightful introduction to his life.

As it is written for a young audience, the language used is very simple. However the illustration style is amazing. It draws you into each page and there is always more to see.

Overall I would recommend this if you are interest in art and have a young child to read it to (or if you just love picture books and good illustration!).

4 out of 5 stars!

I have always had a special place in my heart for visual art, particularly the masterpieces that created during the Impressionism era. Claude Monet has always been my absolute favorite artist. In fact, I have a canvas of Water Lilies hanging in my French themed kitchen. This gorgeous book is written in an easy to understand narrative for young children and is a great introduction to art, and it's importance. The beautiful illustrations are like a book full of Impressionist paintings themselves, but there is also a Claude Monet piece on each spread. I enjoyed learning about Monet, there were a few things that I learned I didn't know, and I loved the descriptions of several pieces of Monet's works at the end of the book. I recommend this book to any person at all of any age, but particularly for elementary aged children.

What a sweet book. I had no clue about Monet. I knew his art was beautiful (creatively pictured throughout the illustrations In the book) but I had no clue about what drove him or inspired him.

This was a lovely little glimpse into his life.

Earc from netgalley

Loved getting to read this picture book, the illustrations were fantastic, and I would definitely want to read the rest of them in the series. Great way to introduce famous artists to kids!

This book recounts Monet's life and art for young readers. Throughout, there are copies of paintings that Monet completed. At the end of the book, those who are interested can learn more about the works. Monet's evolution as an artist from making caricatures when he was young, to academy studies, to finding his own style are all described. Some attention is also given to Monet's personal life, especially his love for the mother of his children. All in all, a good resource for students who are just beginning their studies of art history.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Portrait of an Artist: Claude Monet by Lucy Brownridge is another lovely addition to this wonderful series. As Monet has long been one of my favourite artists, I was anxious to learn more about his personal life, including some of the background that informed his brilliant works, and I was not disappointed. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, we learn of Monet's experimentation with light, and the early days of his relationship with the woman who would become his wife. The story includes many of Monet's most well-known works, and is followed by several paintings which are explained in brief detail. This book, as the rest of the series, is both educational and aesthetically pleasing to both children and adults. Recommended.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for this ARC.

This is a gorgeous, very worthwhile picture book about the great French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. It highlights the important people who influenced him—the artist Eugene Boudin (who encouraged Monet to paint landscapes rather than people); Camille Pissarro (his great Paris art-school friend); and his beloved wife, Camille Devereau. It also discusses , in accessible language, some of Monet’s painting techniques. A wonderful introduction to the artist, this picture-book biography concludes with a spread of thumbnail images (each with a brief commentary) of several of Monet’s most famous works. Brownridge’s book accomplishes a great deal in a few short pages. I loved it, and I think kids will, too.

My only criticism concerns the very small size of the font—at least, in my e-book copy.

What a beautiful beautiful book is this Portrait of an Artist: Claude Monet! Lucy Brownridge's words bring the life of this French painter alive in an unparalleled way, educating and inspiring the littlest of readers. Claude Monet was the painter whose painting gave the name "Impressionism" to a style of painting which left heroics and heroes behind and focussed more on nature.

This book brings into focus Monet's life and his evolution as a painter. Accompanying Lucy Brownridge's text, illustrations by Caroline Bonne Muller give us the glimpses of Monet's life and to add further to a reader's delight, the book also showcases various works of this master artist which are, I think, a great point to start your child's (or your own) education in art.

The text and illustrations also go beautifully hand in hand telling us and inspiring along with it to keep at something that we really really want to do. Monet's story and its characters- Eugene Boudin, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley and Renoir- are all in there. The book highlights his contribution to the world of art- a brand new way of showing water and light.

I enjoyed this but i wish it was longer!! I appreciate it was for younger audiences but it would’ve been nice to get more detail about his childhood etc. I really enjoyed the illustrations (as always) and the little studies of some of his paintings at the end was really sweet!

This was a great introduction to Claude Monet's art and life for children. I also loved the art style, it is unique but reflects Monet's style.

I thought that this was an excellent story and a must read!

I loved the layout of the book, the way the images and text are set out is great and it really draws you in. I know a little about Monet myself as I studied art when i was at school and even I learnt more about him from the book and the tragic loss of his wife.

I liked the focus on his determination to succeed and the recognition he got from bringing in the new "impressionist" movement to art and the way that his most famous paintings are interspersed through the story is a lovely touch too.

This is definitely a 5 star read in my opinion as it is informative and fun to read for children and adults like - I thought that it was a lovely book!! Very highly recommended!!

This is a gorgeous picture book about Claude Monet. I loved the illustrations and it tells about some of the people who influenced him. It's a bit short, but then again, it is for younger readers.

Although this book fills a much-needed niche, the illustrations were good, but the text just felt added in and was not very in keeping with the overall aesthetic of the illustrations. There was just a disconnect between the text and the illustrations. Also, Monet's paintings were not well integrated with the illustrations. This book did not do justice to the subject.

I love Claude Monet's beautiful art and I also loved this book.

I really enjoyed reading about Monet's life, his development as an artist, and his pursuit of finding a new way to paint "the light". One of the best features of this book is that it contains some of his most famous paintings with explanations and backstories. It is well written, easy to understand, and a great way to introduce children to this amazing artist.

I really enjoyed this children's non-fiction book about Claude Monet. He was my grandma's favorite painter and I've seen some of his paintings in real life so it was fun to get a quick biography about him. This serves as a great introduction to art and a great impressionist artist.

A wonderful picture book that managed to combine autobiographical anecdotes and events with gorgeous illustrations. Highly recommended.

Lucy Brownridge is fast turning in to a favorite considering how my kid seems to go for the books in the series over others when given a choice. Another fantastic book on an artist who has captured the hearts of millions around the world.

Monet even though the founder of what is today known as Impressionism, like all artists during his time had to struggle to make a living.. His life is captured through beautiful illustrations and accompanying small capsule of text boxes. I am planning to use it as art appreciation study for my kid.

Portrait of an Artist: Claude Monet by Lucy Brownridge is an illustrated history of the life and works of Claude Monet.

Let’s be clear, this was one of my favourite reads of 2019! It’s a beautifully crafted work and the illustrations are fantastic, I’m sure that all readers will enjoying poring over the pieces to enjoy the details.

Monet’s works feature throughout the book and are then collated at the end with their names, the year that they were painted, and a short summary on the piece. This serves as the perfect introduction for children to begin describing art as it can be overwhelming to go to a galley and see so many pieces. My only criticism is that there is often text over artwork in a black font which did make it a little difficult to read at times.

It’s impressive that so much history is crammed into the thirty pages of the book, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light hearted and informative read despite it being targeted towards children.

‘His hazy and light-dappled paintings looked more like captured memories rather than real scenes’ might just be my favourite description of Monet’s works ever!

This is a beautiful children's book telling the story of one of the most creative minds of our time. The illustrations are gorgeous and the storytelling wonderful. This is the perfect gift for any child in your life.

A charming book for children, depicting the life and art of Monet. Beautifully illustrated, this is the kind of book to treasure, and to encourage children in appreciation of the arts.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for granting my wish with a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Portrait of an Artist: Claude Monet’, written by Lucy Brownridge and illustrated by Caroline Bonne-Muller, in exchange for an honest review.

This charmingly illustrated book is intended for readers aged 7-10 and serves as a brief introduction to the life, work and legacy of artist, Claude Monet. It’s due to be published on 7 January 2020.

In its panels Brownridge and Bonne-Muller capture key moments in Monet’s life from his childhood, his marriage, through his years in Paris and London, up to his retirement in Giverny where he created a series of ponds and filled them with water lilies before creating huge canvases depicting them.

It highlights ten of his most important works including ‘Impression: Sunrise’ for which he had invented a new way of depicting water and light. From then on he and his friends became known as the Impressionists.

Monet is among my favourite artists from this period and this was a delight. I have reviewed a few in this series by Lucy Brownridge now and have found them all age appropriate and informative. The images convey Monet’s love of nature and desire to capture its fleeting moments in his art.

I am all for encouraging an interest in art and art history in young readers and this series is an excellent way to introduce them to important artists and movements.

Recommended to parents, teachers and librarians.