Meeting Cezanne
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When Yannick learns that he is to stay with his Aunt Mathilde and her family in the South of France, he cannot believe his luck. He has rarely been out of Paris, and if the paintings in his mother's beloved Cezanne book are to be believed, surely Provence is paradise itself. So begins an idyllic month for the young city boy: roaming the gentle hills and rolling valleys of Aix-en-Provence, daydreaming about his beautiful cousin Amandine; helping in his aunt and uncle's bustling village inn in the evenings; feeling that he has come to the most wonderful place in the world. Then one evening the idyll is spoilt when an important local comes for dinner and Yannick accidentally destroys a precious drawing the man leaves behind. He could never have imagined that his mother's hero, the world-famous Cezanne, would come to his inn, and sit at one of his tables! But still Yannick is devastated by what he has done, and resolves to make things right again. However, in so doing he makes a surprising discovery.
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Juvenile Fiction/ Social Issues
Ages 7 to 10 , Grades 2 to 5
Pages 80 Hardcover (paperback B/W ARC) - Tiny size?
Preparing for our kindergarten year I have had art and artist themed picture books on the brain. I know this one is for 2nd+ but when I saw the cover I just had to look at it for review. Candlewick Press provided me with an advanced reader copy for the purpose of review. I found myself surprised by a few things, but pleased overall. The book was very small in size and the illustrations were black and white. I was expecting a typical picture book so this was intriguing.
The story itself was intriguing as readers follow a boy Yannick on an adventure away from home when his mother is ill. It is told in a diary/journal format and I find that this book could be a useful example in many settings. It is useful on showing the importance of journal keeping; doing an artist study it would provide an interesting element. As for the plot twist, it was unexpected and amusing.
Given who the artists are I believe the story would best be appreciated as a follow-up to Cezanne and Picasso rather than an introduction. It's cute and quaint.
Thanks to Candlewick Press.
