Ella in the Garden of Giverny: A Picture Book about Claude Monet

When a young girl meets the famous Claude Monet in his garden at Giverny, she learns the importance of staying true to your own vision. This intriguing child's-eye view of Monet and the development of impressionism takes as its premise how artists flocked to Giverny at the turn of the 20th century to study the painter's technique. It tells the story of Ella, the daughter of one such artist, who sneaks into Monet's garden, and develops a friendship with him. As Ella sketches, Monet talks about his life, career, and his technique. And he explains the idea of Impressionism in a way that will make children not only understand the genre, but also want to imitate it themselves. Monika Vaicenaviciene's subtly colored and dreamily delicate illustrations strike the perfect note as they reflect Ella's interpretation of Monet's beautiful garden. Readers will learn about important moments in Monet's life, including his struggles with critics and his own self-doubt, while also appreciating the easy comradery between a wise and experienced artist and a young, opinionated yet impressionable painter. The book ends with a brief biography of Monet in timeline form and information about impressionism as well as Giverny and museums that feature Monet's work.