For the Love of Auguste

Brenda V. Northeast (author/illustrator)

Hodder Children's Books, Australia: 1997

ISBN: 0733611540

Genres: Art, biography, historical fiction, picture book

Issues: gifted/talented

This delightful picture book tells story of the life of Pierre Auguste Renoir - as a bear. Born in Limoges, France, Bearre moves to Paris with his family when he's only four. There he falls in love with the city - ‘an exciting place filled with beautiful buildings. A city full of colour and people.'

Despite having a very good voice, Bearre decides that what he really wants to do is learn to paint so that he can capture the light and movement of his surroundings.

The beautiful illustrations in this book introduce young readers to some of Renoir's most famous works, with little Bearre cheekily inserted into carriages, talking at the café, painting in a field or garden. The author/illustrator manages a very credible copy of the famous impressionist's style and Bearre blends in well with Renoir's characters. The careful selection of paintings is designed to demonstrate to readers the significant relationship between a painter and his/her life and surroundings, each illustration echoing a significant point in Bearre's life.

As well as serving as an excellent introduction to the life and times of a remarkable artist, the reproductions are of sufficiently high quality in terms of colour and tone to allow more observant readers to develop some understanding of Renoir's skilful manipulation of colour to create light and movement.

Same author: For the Love of Vincent.