Tom Lichtenheld

Bridget was a passionate young artist, more interested in her drawing than in things like ice cream. Then one day, while she was working outside, the wind came and carried off her beret, leaving her bereft. Her stylish hat was her artistic inspiration - how could she find a way to create without it...?

An engaging picture-book examination of the creative process, Bridget's Beret explores both the idea of artistic inspiration, and of artist's block, demonstrating one technique - just starting show more a project, and seeing where it takes you - that someone might use to overcome such a challenge. I liked the author's afterword, in which he presents little vignettes about various painters and their technique, as an inspiration for young artists. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books about creativity, the artistic process, and how to overcome those moments when inspiration dries up. show less

Bright colors, sly humor (see "pith helmet"), and lots of references to famous paintings and artists. Worth buying just for the watercolor skies. Young Bridget paints and draws like crazy, attributing her skill to the artist's beret that she adjusted "until it looked just right. It had to have that certain je ne sais quoi. She had no idea what that meant, but she knew all Great Artists needed it to make art." And Great Authors know a good plot needs conflict, so away flies the beret. How show more Bridget gets her groove back is entertaining, and Tom Lichtenheld tops it all off with a spread of ideas on what to do when your Muse takes off like the wind. show less

Author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld team up in this amusing picture-book examination of perspective, as two unseen narrators argue about whether the creature before them is a duck or a rabbit. It all depends upon how you look at it, as it happens...

Justly praised as a means of explaining differing perspectives and opinions to younger children, I think Duck! Rabbit! also works very well as an exploration of visual orientation. It's an interesting thing, how one "reads" show more an image, and is tied I believe, to how one reads text. The standard western method of reading from left to right influences western artistic standards, with paintings and other visual works of art often considered most powerful, when moving across the canvas in that same direction. But what happens if one reads in a language that moves across the page from right to left? Will this influence how one "reads" artwork? This engaging little book really demonstrates this kind of visual orientation, and I suspect that most young western readers will have an easier time seeing the rabbit, and will have to look a little harder for the duck. I know I did! Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books containing visual puzzles and/or games, and to those in the market for children's stories teaching about perspective, and how it can change. show less

I generally am not in favor of "arty" picturebooks. I would rather see picturebooks about kitties and doggies and penguins than about artistic expression and the creative urge.

And in case you're seeing a trend, yes I do generally approach each new book I read with suspicion. I'm that kind of person.

Anyhow, I will make an exception to my no-artsy-picturebooks rule for Tom Lichtenheld. Bridget, proudly topped off by her genuine artist's beret, loves drawing. Her exuberant, colorful pictures show more dominate the warm greens and yellows as she paints and draws her way through the landscape....until her precious beret is lost. Will she ever discover the joy of art again?

This colorful and funny picturebook is full of hints for getting the creative juices flowing, gentle nudges about artists' inspiration, and plenty of sly and silly humor.

Verdict: Highly recommended! A great story to read before you do crafts or art projects in the library, or just for fun! show less