A Bird or Two: A Story about Henri Matisse

By Bijou Le Tord

Book Overview

A lyrical, vibrantly illustrated picture book biography of modern artist Henri Matisse.

In the brilliant sun of Nice, France, 20th-century artist Henri Matisse painted the brightest, boldest colors he could imagine. Joyfully, he painted everywhere and everyone. Enchanted and with a light heart, he painted all the time.

Bijou Le Tord's A Bird or Two offers young readers a lively, poetic portrait of Matisse, one of history's most masterful painters, sculptors, and printmakers. Le Tourd's joyful illustrations mirror the spirit, light, and colors of Matisse's work, and her poetic words sing to the music of his pictures. Ideal for reading aloud.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802851843
• ISBN13: 9780802851840
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 10.3" x 11.2"
• Age Range: 5 to 11 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 6

Customer Reviews

a work of beauty

A Bird or two opens your heart, your eyes to the extraordinary colorful work of Matisse. With great insight to his work Bijou Le Tord lets us enter the world of grace of this wonderful, beloved French artist. A must in all libraries, homes, wherever art is loved!

A Bird or Two is strong

"I am strong because I do what is in my mind."It will be a child's recitation of these words that will make parents proud of the purchase of Bijou Le Tord's book, A Bird or Two. A Bird or Two, which is a biography of Heni Matisse, does not simply factualize the life of the famous painter, instead it fleshes him out and gives him spirit, life, and strength. As an introduction to the world of art, Le Tord's book is brilliant. The book itself is a piece of art, thus it reflects the work of it's hero, Matisse, in a way that facts cannot. In Le Tord's book there lies a well-defined tribute to the famous artist which even the youngest child can grasp and cherish.

Educational and Fun!

After attending a Matisse exhibition I was eager to pass on my love for his paintings to my young nephews. This book is so effective in teaching them about the artist that even I learned a couple of things. So,if you're looking for a fun way to introduce young kids to art this book is a good tool. This book will give kids a friendly overview of who Matisse was and what motivated him to paint. It'll also show them "kid versions" of his most famous paintings. It's such a fun book that I recommend it for adults as well