Monet Paints a Day    by Julie Danneberg & Caitlin Heimerl Order:  USA  Can Charlesbridge, 2012 (2012) Hardcover     Reviewed by Bob Walch Based on a true event, this picture book looks at the day that Claude Monet found himself nearly washed off shore by a wave that crashed over him while he was painting on the rocky beach in Etretat, France. He was so engrossed in the scene and attempting to catch the waning light that the artist overlooked the fact that the tide had changed and he nearly paid dearly for the error. Told in first person, the episode offers a platform that allows Julie Danneberg to share information about the famous Impressionist. Along with the narration the reader will discover a small paragraph on each two page spread that explains something about the painter's life and how he worked. 'Monet painted at a feverish pace, feeling that he had only about 7 to 15 minutes to work on a painting before the light changed and he had to switch to another one,' explains one of these short blurbs. There's also an explanation of Monet's painting techniques included at the back of the book that will intrigue those who might be interested in picking up a paint brush themselves. The lush watercolor illustrations created by Caitlin Heimerl provide a nice accompaniment to the text. You'll also find a few excerpts from Monet's notes and letters mixed in with the story, which is a nice touch. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews