Linnea in Monet's Garden

Rating:
Summary: My 7 1/2 year old loved this book!
Review: After browsing through a toy store with my daughter and coming across a Linnea rag doll, we decided to purchase the book displayed there as well entitled: Linnea In Monet's Garden. I was amazed to see my little girl become totally engrossed in this book and develope a speedy facination for Monet at the same time! After looking at the wonderful paintings contained in the pages, my little girl produced a pencil and a sketch pad and proceeded to sketch the flowers in our garden outside. We homeschool and are always on the lookout for good books. This is one I'm thankful we stumbled across! I think Linnea should visit Michel Angelo next!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful to share with children
Review: An enchanting introduction to one of the world's favourite artists. The journey undertaken by Linnea can easily be retraced when visiting France.

It is a great way to introduce children to Impressionism, this particular artist, and ready them for visiting a gallery.

Thoroughly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A child's exciting trip to visit the world and art of Monet
Review: I have read several book recently that explain the impressionist art work of Claude Monet, and "Linnea in Monet's Garden" is certainly one of the most creative and interesting of the bunch. Originally published in Swedish as "Linnea i malarens tradgard," this exquisite little book tells of the adventure of young Linnea to Claude Monet's garden, where she gets to stand on the Japanese bridge overlooking the lily pond that Monet often painted. Linnea also gets to visit many of Monet's actual paintings in Paris, accompanied by her friend Mr. Bloom, a retired gardner who knows a lot about the life and art of Monet. The story of "Linnea in Monet's Garden" is told by Christina Bjork, with drawings by Lena Anderson. The book also includes both black & white photographs of Monet and his family, but color shots taken by "Linnea" on her trip or Monet's home and paintings.

The other books I have read this week about the art of Monet have focused more specifically on explaining his art in terms of subject, color, perpsective, tone, etc. "Linnea in Monet's Garden" covers these topics in a more offhanded way. This hardly matters because the strength of the book is in how in capture's the young girl's joy in actually going to the places she has read about and getting to sit in Monet's kitchen, walk on the Japanese bridge, and take photographs of the water lillies in his pond. There is also the fun of getting to see the actual paintings that she has only seen in books. This story is told as if it were a true adventure (they have to be allowed into the Water Lily Rooms at the museum because they are under repairs and Lineea bursts into tears when they discover the rooms are closed to the public). If you have ever had the pleasure of a finally seeing a great painting in person (for me it was Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" in Chicago) or visiting famous places you have read about for years (pick your own example), then this charming book will speak to you.

Rating:
Summary: A child's exciting trip to visit the world and art of Monet
Review: I have read several book recently that explain the impressionist art work of Claude Monet, and "Linnea in Monet's Garden" is certainly one of the most creative and interesting of the bunch. Originally published in Swedish as "Linnea i malarens tradgard," this exquisite little book tells of the adventure of young Linnea to Claude Monet's garden, where she gets to stand on the Japanese bridge overlooking the lily pond that Monet often painted. Linnea also gets to visit many of Monet's actual paintings in Paris, accompanied by her friend Mr. Bloom, a retired gardner who knows a lot about the life and art of Monet. The story of "Linnea in Monet's Garden" is told by Christina Bjork, with drawings by Lena Anderson. The book also includes both black & white photographs of Monet and his family, but color shots taken by "Linnea" on her trip or Monet's home and paintings.

The other books I have read this week about the art of Monet have focused more specifically on explaining his art in terms of subject, color, perpsective, tone, etc. "Linnea in Monet's Garden" covers these topics in a more offhanded way. This hardly matters because the strength of the book is in how in capture's the young girl's joy in actually going to the places she has read about and getting to sit in Monet's kitchen, walk on the Japanese bridge, and take photographs of the water lillies in his pond. There is also the fun of getting to see the actual paintings that she has only seen in books. This story is told as if it were a true adventure (they have to be allowed into the Water Lily Rooms at the museum because they are under repairs and Lineea bursts into tears when they discover the rooms are closed to the public). If you have ever had the pleasure of a finally seeing a great painting in person (for me it was Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" in Chicago) or visiting famous places you have read about for years (pick your own example), then this charming book will speak to you.

Rating:
Summary: Yay
Review: I love this book, I only wish I could be Linnea visiting Monet's garden.

Rating:
Summary: Impossible to resist
Review: I picked this up at the home of a friend. Her little girl scampered over and, eyeing me with suspicion, said, "That's MY BOOK." Once she gave me permission to look at it if I promised to treat it carefully, I began to wish I really could steal it!
What a treasure. Linnea in Monet's Garden is a way to introduce children (about age 6-10, I'd say) to the appreciation of Impressionist art. The book includes photographs and drawings of Monet's home and family, a story of his life, and full-color reproductions of many of his paintings. Linnea is taken to Giverny by the elderly Mr. Bloom and, as she is entranced by all things Monet, so will you be, too.
Buy two copies: one for yourself and one for a young friend.

Rating:
Summary: A Monet Lovers Dream
Review: I read this book to my 5 year old and my 3 year old and they both love it. What a wonderful way to introduce art to them and learn a lot about Monet and his family myself. My five year old really loves the book, she can't wait to go to the Museum of Fine Arts and see some of the actual paintings now. This book deserves five stars, plus!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: In Sweden where I come from we have alot of books about Linnea, but this one is one of the greatest. If you can find the others ones in english or in an other language, do buy them. Just to tell you something about them: theres one about when she is planting and making flowers groving and one there she is baking and learning kids about kitchen stuff. The authors of Linnea books has also wrote books about Linus and Maja, try and find them, you will enjoy asmuch..

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Summary: A delightful peice full of beauty, art & child-like wonder!
Review: It was six years ago that I stumbled into Linea's story when strolling into a little sea-side bookshop in Ocean City, NJ. (This little book kept me sneaking back in day after day.) Over these years I have had the priviledge to dream alongside of friends young and old. Just last Spring ('99) I was struck with such amazement as I meandered through Monet's home and gardens, so much the space was familiar. KUDOS to Ms. Bjork and Ms. Anderson for their wonderful and creative work! I was truly amazed by the thoroughness and creativity . . . all the book is missing is the scents of Giverny. (And by no means do I suggest a scratch and sniff version!) I can't wait to share this with my children someday. Hopefully Linea will become a family tradition!

Rating:
Summary: A favorite for all ages.
Review: Linnea in Monet's Garden is a book written by Christina Bjørk, and illustrated by Lene Anderson, both come from Sweden.

The book tells the story of Linnea, a small Swedish girl, and her old friend and neighbour, Mr. Bloom. Linnea and Mr. Bloom share a love for paintings and for flowers, and Claude Monet is a painter they both love. Together they decide to visit Paris, and Monet's garden in Giverny, and with the help of this book we can go with them on this journey.

The book is first of all a beautiful, everyday story about two friends visiting the house and garden of a beloved painter. But it is also a masterpiece in the way it is built up. The way the story, the information about the impressionist period in art, the pictures and paintings all melt together. I and my 6 years old daughter can never get tired of the book, and after reading it an uncountable number of times we both felt that we knew the garden in Giverny. It was a very special day for us then, last summer when we were able to visit Giverny, the house and the garden. We could walk around seeing the same sights as Linnea had seen, sit on the bench together with both Monet and Linnea, walk over the Japanese bridge, and take pictures of all the flowers Linnea had also photographed.

Though this book is first of all a book for children it is a treasure for all ages. A pure joy to read over and over again.

Britt Arnhild Lindland