Dennis Haseley has written many books for children, including "The Invisible Moose, A Story for Bear," ""and "Kite Flier." He lives in Brooklyn, NY. Ed Young has illustrated more than eighty books for children, including the Caldecott winning "Lon Po Po" and two Caldecott Honor books: "Seven Blind Mice" and "The Emperor and the Kite." Born in China, he now lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.
Kirkus Reviews A wealthy man engages a great painter to create an
image of the faithful horse that runs to him in 20 heartbeats. He
waits for word that his painting is ready. Years slip by, and both
man and horse grow old. Finally, livid, the man returns to demand
the picture he commissioned so very long ago. And in 20 heartbeats,
the artist puts brush to paper to produce a piece of genius. But
"[t]he man did not look at the painting. All he could see were the
years that had gone by." There are many ways to read this story: as
a treatise on the nature of art and the value of product versus
process; as an allegory about faith and another Great Painter; as a
reminder to look beyond the obvious. These messages may elude
younger readers, but no one will miss the point of Young's
arresting limited-color collage work, in which dreams are veiled in
a layered rice-paper mist, and texture, curve and line, along with
the compelling and considered placement of pigment, guide the eye
along the narrative path. Booklist
In historical China, a wealthy man desires a painting of his
favorite horse. He takes his steed to Homan, a renowned painter,
and pays a bag of gold in advance for the portrait. Homan spends a
few moments touching the horse, circling him; then he retires to
paint. After waiting many years and watching his horse grow old,
the client is infuriated by the artist's progress and demands his
picture. Homan paints the horse in a few swift, sure strokes ("It
took him twenty heartbeats"). Enraged by how quickly the portrait
is executed, the buyer turns to leave when he sees the thousands of
paintings Homan has made in preparation for his masterpiece. Young
creates collages of cut papers as well as drawn and painted
elements to illustrate the story. From shadowy figures in the rich
man's dream to the artist's gesture, reaching out to the horse to
the bold forms underscoring the characters' emotions at the story's
climax, the handsome artwork evokes every nuance of t
Kirkus ReviewsA wealthy man engages a great painter to create an
image of the faithful horse that runs to him in 20 heartbeats. He
waits for word that his painting is ready. Years slip by, and both
man and horse grow old. Finally, livid, the man returns to demand
the picture he commissioned so very long ago. And in 20 heartbeats,
the artist puts brush to paper to produce a piece of genius. But
"[t]he man did not look at the painting. All he could see were the
years that had gone by." There are many ways to read this story: as
a treatise on the nature of art and the value of product versus
process; as an allegory about faith and another Great Painter; as a
reminder to look beyond the obvious. These messages may elude
younger readers, but no one will miss the point of Young's
arresting limited-color collage work, in which dreams are veiled in
a layered rice-paper mist, and texture, curve and line, along with
the compelling and considered placement of pigment, guide the eye
along the narrative path. Booklist
In historical China, a wealthy man desires a painting of his
favorite horse. He takes his steed to Homan, a renowned painter,
and pays a bag of gold in advance for the portrait. Homan spends a
few moments touching the horse, circling him; then he retires to
paint. After waiting many years and watching his horse grow old,
the client is infuriated by the artist's progress and demands his
picture. Homan paints the horse in a few swift, sure strokes ("It
took him twenty heartbeats"). Enraged by how quickly the portrait
is executed, the buyer turns to leave when he sees the thousands of
paintings Homan has made in preparation for his masterpiece. Young
creates collages of cut papersas well as drawn and painted elements
to illustrate the story. From shadowy figures in the rich man's
dream to the artist's gesture, reaching out to the horse to the
bold forms underscoring the characters' emotions at the story's
climax, the handsome artwork evokes every nuance of this memorable
story which celebrates dedication to one's art. "-- Carolyn Phelan"
Starred Review - Publishers Weekly
Set in the indeterminate Far East of long ago so often favored by
Caldecott Medalist Young, this story about a rich man and an artist
lends itself to various levels of interpretation. Children may see
the book as a lesson about how practice makes perfect; adults may
see it as a confrontation between commerce and art. The rich man
pays an artist to paint a picture of his beloved horse; after years
of waiting, he is furious when the artist paints the picture in
little more than "twenty heartbeats." When he sees the thousands of
drawings of his horse in the artist's studio, however, he
understands why the artist has struggled so long. Like a folktale,
Haseley's (A Story for Bear) text unfolds economically, but it is
Young's virtuoso illustrations that breathe life into the book--the
combination of elegant brushstrokes and collage designs are
masterly. At its best, the story... attempts to explain just how an
artist transforms his vision into art; through Young's artwork,
readers, like the rich man, will understand how remarkable that
vision can be. Ages 5-9. (May)
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