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Bloomsbury USA Childrens
On sale:
August 2010
Price:
$17.99
Format:
Hardcover
Size:
9.625 x 10.75 in
Pages:
40 pp
Ages:
4-8
Grades:
P-3
ISBN-13: 9781599900582
ISBN-10: 1599900580
Also Available
Who Stole Mona Lisa?
Written by Ruthie Knapp
Illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Book Description
Mon dieu! Someone stole the Mona Lisa!
Narrated by the lady of the enigmatic smile herself-and brought to life with gorgeous paintings that take the reader from da Vinci's renaissance right up to the present day-this is a stylishly whimsical account of the glorious, wonderful, sometimes dangerous life of the best recognized painting of all time. Discover the secrets behind her mysterious smile, and hear for yourself the amazing true story of her kidnapping.
"The engaging, rhythmic-but-not-rhyming text fuses deliciously with McElmurry’s marvelous artwork--its flat, decorative style, skewed head angles, strong lines and rich gouache colors echo both illuminated manuscripts and the Sienese school of painting. Mona Lisa’s ever-changing expressions and comical details are priceless. Ornamental borders and an occasional cartoon bubble contribute to the arresting design. A gem."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"An entertaining introduction to the world of art history as well as to this particular painting."—The Horn Book
"Clever. McElmurry’s fancifully adorned art matches the droll yet reverent tone of the story and moves with ease from gazing crowds, heads turned impossibly sideways in contemplation, to scenes of mustachioed policemen searching high and low for the missing painting."—Booklist
"Knapp employs the cadences of a storyteller. Short sentences gain momentum from internal rhymes, repeated opening phrases, and humorous details."—School Library Journal
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