Books 24

Picasso and Minou . Kindergarten-Grade 3–Minou was the name of Pablo Picasso’s cat. An author’s note and photograph help to confirm this detail, while spelling out the fictional and factual elements of this slice-of-life story from the artist’s Blue and Rose Periods. The feline has finicky taste; he does not care for the somber, gaunt figures and the suffering conveyed in the artist’s monochromatic palette during the early 20th century. When the paintings do not sell, the artist is forced to turn his companion loose to find his own food. The animal’s quest leads to dinner and friends in the form of carnival performers, a device used by Maltbie to explain Picasso’s new subject material and to segue into a fresh color scheme. The gouache, pencil, and watercolor scenes are skillful renderings of the young painter, a variety of canvases, and the characters and settings that inspired his work. Estrada’s blue/gray filter on Picasso’s Paris is evident without becoming oppressive. The harlequins and gymnasts are a welcome burst of climactic color until the denouement when Minou has another change to confront: Cubism. This effective introduction offers a historically accurate explanation regarding the Blue Period as well as an engaging story. Age-appropriate background on Picasso’s life and artistic choices may be found in Kate Scarborough’s well-illustrated Pablo Picasso (Watts, 2002). See details and Buy