From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5–More an analysis of the painting than a biography of the artist, Burleigh's oversized volume explicates Seurat's well-known composition. Because the artist was a private man, little is known about his personal life; by studying the technique and subject matter of La Grande Jatte, the author makes inferences about his subject's life and work habits. He explains that the many croquetons (paintings on cigar boxes) and small studies executed as research for the final huge painting (7' x 10') show the artist's attention to detail. Seurat's artwork is compared to that of his contemporaries, and Burleigh interweaves a detailed look at the painting with facts about the time period, quotes from other artists, and information about Seurat's unique style. Throughout, the author does a thorough job of explaining Seurat's invention of pointillism without using technical terms. Easy-to-read, with large reproductions, this is a grand introduction.–Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 3-6. Like Action Jackson (2002), by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, this picture book for older readers focuses on a single painting to introduce an artist's life and work--in this case, Georges Seurat's La Grande Jatte. Burleigh begins with direct observations about the painting's size, pointillist style, and composition, dropping facts about Seurat's life into his discussion. The text is somewhat uneven. Sophisticated language about the artist ("he was--as a friend put it--'haunted by night's magnificence'") mixes with sometimes-cloying phrases aimed at younger children ("What do we notice first?") and the many handsome reproductions of the painting are occasionally lost in the book's binding. But Burleigh's accessible observations will encourage children to think about basic art principles (how colors work together; what harmony means in a painting) and to look, linger, and find the stories, or at least the questions, in artwork. There are no source notes, but a selected bibliography, a glossary, and a time line close this attractive title, which has been published in association with the Art Institute of Chicago. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
Published in association with The Art Institute of Chicago The story behind one of the best- known paintings of all time A Sunday on la Grande Jatte-1884 continues to fascinate art lovers over a century since Georges Seurat painted and first displayed it-so much so that it alone will form the basis of an entire exhibit at the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago. Award-winning author Robert Burleigh uses this extraordinary painting to give young children a compelling look at Seurat's life and introduce them to the post-impressionist art technique Seurat invented-pointillism, in which a picture is constructed from dots of pure color that blend at a distance into recognizable shapes and various color tones. Part biography, part art appreciation, Seurat and La Grande Jatte tells the story behind the story depicted on the canvas of a busy park on a Sunday afternoon in 1884, and encourages children to discover their own methods of self-expression.

About the Author
Robert Burleigh is a painter himself, as well the award winning author of many books for children, including the Texas Blue Bonnet Master List book Chocolate: Riches from the Rainforest. He lives in Chicago.

ANNOTATION

An analysis of Georges Seurat's famous painting, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, including where and when it was made, interesting details, and the techniques used to create a sense of stillness.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Published in association with The Art Institute of ChicagoThe story behind one of the best- known paintings of all time A Sunday on la Grande Jatte-1884 continues to fascinate art lovers over a century since Georges Seurat painted and first displayed it-so much so that it alone will form the basis of an entire exhibit at the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago. Award-winning author Robert Burleigh uses this extraordinary painting to give young children a compelling look at Seurat's life and introduce them to the post-impressionist art technique Seurat invented-pointillism, in which a picture is constructed from dots of pure color that blend at a distance into recognizable shapes and various color tones. Part biography, part art appreciation, Seurat and La Grande Jatte tells the story behind the story depicted on the canvas of a busy park on a Sunday afternoon in 1884, and encourages children to discover their own methods of self-expression. Author Bio: Robert Burleigh is a painter himself, as well the award winning author of many books for children, including the Texas Blue Bonnet Master List book Chocolate: Riches from the Rainforest. He lives in Chicago.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Wesley Jernigan

This large, richly illustrated book is a marvelous introduction to the work of an important late nineteenth century painter, the pointillist Georges Seurat. Few other painters are so defined in the mind of the public by a single work as Seurat is by his monumental A Sunday on La Grande Jatte — 1884. Robert Burleigh, who has written many successful children's books, takes the young reader on a stroll through the park-like setting of the monumental painting where people, dogs, monkeys, trees and shadows all add their color to the rich fabric of the work. Burleigh explains the conception that inspired the painting and the careful sketches and preliminary studies before Seurat did the actually painting. He describes and illustrates the pointillism that Seurat developed as a key to his search for a distinct personal style. Several later paintings in the same style are also illustrated. The book is written to engage early and middle readers and it is well suited to being read to one or to a few younger elementary school students since the illustrations are best appreciated up close. The book includes a time-line, glossary and bibliography. Hurrah for Seurat. 2004, Harry N Abrams, Ages 9 to 12.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-More an analysis of the painting than a biography of the artist, Burleigh's oversized volume explicates Seurat's well-known composition. Because the artist was a private man, little is known about his personal life; by studying the technique and subject matter of La Grande Jatte, the author makes inferences about his subject's life and work habits. He explains that the many croquetons (paintings on cigar boxes) and small studies executed as research for the final huge painting (7' x 10') show the artist's attention to detail. Seurat's artwork is compared to that of his contemporaries, and Burleigh interweaves a detailed look at the painting with facts about the time period, quotes from other artists, and information about Seurat's unique style. Throughout, the author does a thorough job of explaining Seurat's invention of pointillism without using technical terms. Easy-to-read, with large reproductions, this is a grand introduction.-Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews