Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1559060 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .47" h x 9.31" w x 12.35" l, 1.02 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In another picture book in the burgeoning ordinary-child-meets-famous-artist genre, a ghostly Vincent Van Gogh pops up in contemporary Manhattan to fascinate a boy by doing what he does best: paint. Bernard guides the mysterious artist from "far away" through an uninvitingly rendered pen-and-ink city; color insets include the visitor's colorful paintingsAof the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge and other New York iconsAin a sort of "Arles meets Manhattan" fantasy. If less than stylistically authentic, Waldman's (The Never-Ending Greenness) paintings cleverly imitate Van Gogh's feeling for color and replicate his eagerness to depict every aspect of his environment. There's not much in the way of story line (What occasions Van Gogh's appearance, and why does he leave when he does?); instead, the plot serves as a vehicle for Waldman to try on Van Gogh's style. All ages.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4-This showcase for Waldman's paintings of New York City, done in the style of Vincent Van Gogh's work, grew out of his childhood love of his art, and his fantasy of leading the Dutch artist around New York City. It is late 20th century when a group of boys come upon Van Gogh at his easel in Central Park. One, Bernard, stays to make the artist's acquaintance and shows him the sights of the city, from monuments like the Statue of Liberty to various neighborhoods: Chinatown, Harlem, Greenwich Village. Their tour ends at the Museum of Modern Art, in front of The Starry Night. At this point, the artist disappears, leaving Bernard inspired to create his own copy of the picture. Sketches that resemble the master's brown-ink drawings, executed on soft brownish paper, portray the action, as Vincent and Bernard traverse the city. Waldman's vibrantly colored paintings, with brushwork mimicking Van Gogh's, are set in squares on the double spreads, creating a striking page design. Children's interpretations of The Starry Night fill the endpapers. An intriguing conceit for larger collections, or where there is strong interest in art.
Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Waldman has created a nifty little fantasy based on the life of painter Vincent Van Gogh. Although the language is occasionally a little elliptical or awkward, the pictures will propel children happily forward. Bernard, who is hanging out with his friends in Central Park, is fascinated by a man painting on an easel. The man's name is Vincent, and he tells Bernard he's in search of places "that ask to be painted." So Bernard takes him all over the city. At the end, Vincent takes Bernard to the Museum of Modern Art, shows him Starry Night, and disappears, leaving Bernard captivated enough to sketch his own version of the painting. The drama of brilliantly colored oils and acrylics depicting New York scenes in Van Gogh's style juxtaposed with lively, sepia-toned pen-and-ink sketches of the city works well: as Bernard says, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, and the Statue of Liberty "never looked so great." The endpapers include versions of Starry Night done by children Waldman has taught in art class. GraceAnne DeCandido