Quint Buchholz

Translated from the German. ?áInteresting. ?áThe text is longish, and the pictures invite deep reflection. ?áIf you like surrealism (Magritte, not Dali) you might want to buy this. ?áIt's a work of art that's about art and about a boy who sees, in a neighbor who paints, a sort of mentor... and, subtly, it's about the young man who finds himself in the role of mentor. ?á

The book design says picture-book, but it's for all ages, especially (I think) 8-11.

Kleine lauwarme Geschichten wo Bücher vorkommen, und die alle so auf die Illustrationen zugeschnitten sind, dass man sich fragt was zuerst da war, und natürlich auch was das alles soll. Ich mochte die Arbeiten von Quint Buchholz früher, jetzt finde ich die mystische und die symbolische Note nicht mehr so ansprechend.

This picture book is a Batchelder Award Winner, translated from German to English, though it is most noteworthy for its illustrations. The visual narrative is breathtaking, and more than adequate to carry the story, which is a charming window in on the artistic awakening of a youth who becomes enchanted with a local painter's vision of life as a series of "collectible moments."

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Media: oil paint
Age Appropriateness: primary
Plot: person against person
Characterization: Max is a flat and static character. In the book he simply paints and draws. You don't know anything about him except that he is an artist and he. As the book ends you find out a little more about him, such as he never stays in one place too long. But you never find out about what he believes or why he paints or why he befriends this young boy.
Review: This is a great example of show more realistic fiction because it is very believable. There is no evidence to suggest that this story is false. The pictures that he creates are the post fiction part of the story, because they are fantastical and highly unrealistic. But the story draws you in and you also become friends with Max. show less