Leonardo's Monster

By Jane Sutcliffe

Although not much is known about Leonardo da Vinci's childhood, one rare story exists. When Leonardo was a young boy, his father received a request from a friend to have a shield painted. Knowing how talented his son was, he naturally asked Leonardo. Leonardo set out to paint a monster, a monster so terrifying even his father thought it to be real. Leonardo's father was so pleased with his son's work that he decided not to return the shield to his friend. Instead, he sold it and bought his friend a shield that wasn't so frightening.

The first picture book re-creation of this childhood tale examines the imaginative process in art. As he tries to create a horrifying monster, Leonardo studies a number of distasteful creatures, and only in combining the characteristics of living things with imaginary elements was he able to develop his frightful monster. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest artists of all time. A man of many talents, he liked to accomplish the unimaginable.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158980838X
• ISBN13: 9781589808386
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.8" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 7 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 4