Zoro is a little boy in 17th-century Italy, long before airplanes flew in the sky. But Zoro is also an apprentice to the artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci—and Leonardo is experimenting with a revolutionary flying machine! This is a title in Barron’s Anholt’s Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt’s fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists....

Young Marie wants to be a ballerina, but her parents have no money for lessons. She must earn what little money she can as an artist’s model at a ballet school. Then, her life takes an unusual turn when she models for the famous sculptor, Edgar Degas.This is a title in Barron’s Anholt’s Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt’s fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists....

Many years ago, Marie hoped to be a famous ballerina, but because her family had too little money for lessons she began modeling at the ballet school. The painter for whom she modeled was the artist, Edgar Degas. As Degas' figure of The Little Dancer took shape, Marie began to feel sympathy for the bad-tempered artist. When the sculpture was finished, thousands of art lovers came to see the statue, making Marie the most famous dancer of all. Here is an exquisite introduction to the life of a great nineteenth-century French artist, with beautiful impressionistic illustrations and reproductions of Degas' own work. (Ages 4-7)

From the reviews: "Reading this book always gives me chills! It is the story of Marie, the young ballet dancer who posed for Degas’ famous sculpture. With simple, lyrical text, the story is brought to life by a guard in the Louvre where the statue is displayed. Marie had wanted to be the most famous dancer in the world; and that she is, but not in quite the way she had planned. A touching and beautiful tale!" —Judi Baxter, Edplay , August 2001...

Sylvette is a shy little girl, but her neighbor happens to be the artist Pablo Picasso. Attracted by Sylvette’s classical facial profile and her lovely ponytail hair style, Picasso convinces her to overcome her shyness and pose for a series of artworks. These drawings, paintings, and sculptures soon become world famous, and encouraged to abandon her shyness, Sylvette herself begins a career as a fine artist. This is a title in Barron’s Anholt’s Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt’s fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists....

The ugly old Mean Queen is jealous of Snow White, because she has a pretty little nose and wants to be a pop star. The Mean Queen tries to stop Snow White's dream coming true, but will she be a match for seven singing aliens?...

Here is the fascinating story -- based on true fact -- of a world-famous artist and a little girl who became one of his models. Sylvette first met Picasso in 1954, when she was a girl in the southern French town of Vallauris. At that time, she was the shyest and dreamiest girl among her friends, though today, she is a respected artist in her own right. When Picasso set up his studio in a nearby house, he spotted young Sylvette and was taken immediately by her classical profile and her lovely ponytail. When at last he convinced her to pose for what became the first of more than forty works of art, the two gradually became good friends. Before long, Picasso's portraits of Sylvette became famous around the world.

Author and illustrator, Laurence Anholt, captures the spirit of this warm-hearted story in words and pictures. In the process he also introduces several of Picasso's most famous paintings. Young readers will be intrigued to see how Picasso transformed Sylvette's image into a variety of fantastic and whimsical forms. (Ages 4-7)....

Young Camille befriends a strange visitor to his small town, and one day he brings this man a gift of bright, beautiful sunflowers. The man is the artist Vincent van Gogh, and the sunflowers quickly become the subject of a magnificent painting. This is a title in Barron’s Anholt’s Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt’s fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists....

Julie lives in Paris, but she longs to walk in a beautiful country garden. When her mother takes her on a visit to rural Giverny, Julie discovers a beautiful garden and befriends the man she believes is the gardener. In fact, he is the garden’s owner, the immortal artist Claude Monet. This is a title in Barron’s Anholt’s Artists Books for Children series, in which author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of the artists were touched by children. Anholt’s fine illustrations appear on every page and include reproductions of works by the artists....

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Ruby lives in the city and Grampa lives in the country. They write to each other and share the events in their lives. Ruby tells about the flights of stairs in their apartment block and the sights of the city. Grampa tells about the naughty magpies that live in his old oak tree. Through the Magpie Song that Grampa describes, the events of the story unravel — three magpies for Ruby the magpie girl, one for a heartbreaking goodbye, and six for a wonderful surprise that might change Ruby’s life forever. Jim Coplestone’s vibrant images and Laurence Anholt’s imaginative narrative distinguish this book that includes a fold-out flap with gold foil....