Claude by Phyllis Harris (The Gift Shop Bear) is a cleverly conceived, wordless picture book that encourages young readers to let go of preconceived notions and approach art--and life--with spontaneous joy.
A young bereted artist, accompanied by their dog, Claude, ponders a blank canvas while imagining the lush, Monet-inspired scene they will paint on it: blue strokes for sky, green for hills and trees, yellow and red for fields of flowers. While the artist works hard to make headway on their masterpiece, canine Claude attempts to get the human child to play. A leash, a ball, and a furry puppy tummy are all offered as attempts to distract the child. When Claude's antics become too enthusiastic, however, they result in a mess of paint splatters and paw prints. At first the artist is discouraged, but it's not long before they recognize beauty in the mess of loosely applied squiggles, splats, and paw imprints that overlay their more serious attempts. The artist--and now-bereted Claude--appreciate their collaborative masterpiece together.
This energetic, inventive book about creativity serves equally well as both an elementary tribute to Impressionist master Claude Monet and a demonstration of the power of play. Harris's intention for her young artist to relax rather than chase idealistic outcomes is clearly expressed in the succinct, focused story. Illustrations feature textured black outlines strategically enhanced by exuberant splashes of color that pop effectively against the generous white space. A final spread includes a self-portrait by the artist Monet, a short note about him, and the book creator's thoughts on perfectionism and fun while seeking to create "masterpieces." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author