Charlotte in Paris

Charlotte #2

by Joan MacPhail Knight, Melissa Sweet

It's 1892. Charlotte and her family have lived abroad in the famous artist colony in Giverny, France, for a year, when an exciting invitation arrives. The celebrated impressionist Mary Cassatt is having an exhibition in Paris. While in Paris, Charlotte dines at a cafe on the Champs-Elysees, watches a marionette show in the Tuileries gardens and celebrates her birthday at the Eiffel Tower. Illustrated with stunning museum reproductions of works by artists such as Monet, Degas, Cassatt, Renoir and Rodin as well as lovely watercolor collages, this sequel to Charlotte in Giverny also includes biographical sketches of the featured painters. Charlotte's charming scrapbook will leave fans of the first book, art lovers, Francophiles and readers of all ages shouting, "Vive Charlotte!"

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Historical Fiction, France, Nature, Historical

52 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a nice story, a journal about a young girls experiences in Paris in the late 19th century. I loved the way that history is woven throughout the story, but I wasn't sure if our girls would like the book as much as I did and I decided not to purchase it for them.

I discovered this book in a bookstore in Paris and I loved perusing the pages and then seeing the sights for myself. I just noticed that there's a whole series featuring Charlotte and I will have to see if our local library has any of the other books.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was meant for my daughter for Christmas, but I think I shan't give it to her after all. It seems that it was meant for me.

This charming book combines my loves of Painting and Art History, Gardening, and Gastronomy with my infatuations of Paris and the French language and perfectly turns them out as a delicious visual for all demoiselles petite and mesdames artistique alike.

She might end up with this copy, but I'll be buying my own very soon.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice introduction to French language and culture as well as Impressionist painting for a little lady.

Done in a sweet scrapbook/collaged/diary style.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte and her family receive an invitation to an exhibition in Paris and off they go to visit all the sites of Paris in 1892. I especially like the Melissa Sweet illustrations.

[Lady reading under the Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: Charlotte mentions that, upon entering the garden of a lady artist, she sees said artist painting a nude model and remarks, "So that's why she paints in her own garden!"

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book about Charlotte, who's father is an American painter who has moved the family to France in 1893 so he can paint with the Impressionists. In this volume they move to Paris for a while to take in the art scene there.

These are lovely books with beautiful illustrations by the author and copies of paintings by famous artists that are worked into the text.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through a series of letters young Charlotte who introduces us to Claude Monet and various Impressionist painters. Didn’t realize this was part of a series, I will explore others.

Melissa Sweet is one of my favorite illustrators and I must admit I appreciated the artwork more than the story.

[Kara Kuehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I liked the recipe on August 28, 1893. The only thing I disliked was that often Charlotte will say "more later" but never finishes the day or talks about it in other days. Other than that, though, the book is great!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an excellent children's story about life in Paris among the Impressionist painters. I loved the fact that actual paintings made during thst time were printed among fictional Charlotte Glidden's diary pages.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining way of getting to know some of the impressionist painters while learning some French words and French culture. I really enjoyed this book.

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd format to do this by journal entry. Also probably too “old” for my girls as it is LONG and took forever to read aloud.

[Karen Dransfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems I read these out of order, but never mind. This is the journal of Charlotte as they prepare and then travel to Paris and stay for a while. And then head home again. The story tells of her father the painter who they follow from place to place as he paints, meets other painters, studies painting and so on. And about Charlotte who is traveling along with her family and friends. She records events and places she visits and the people she meets. Her journal diary is full of mini pictures she paints and items of interest from her journeys. Plus replications of some of the famous paintings that her father and his friends are painting.

This is one of 4 books which are a great way to show what a journal could be, with all the added items and pictures. Dated notes of events and her feelings. And all including factual information about famous artists of the times. At the back there is a section called credits which lists every painting replica and who created it. And a section on all the artists mentioned in the story. A great way to introduce or to inspire the studying of some of the classic famous artists.

[Travis Kesinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the way that this book is formatted is the element that is most intriguing to me. I think it transports students to the pages of a diary-like book and doesn't feel like reading any old picture book. The way the author and illustrator collaborated on this book play an integral role in the overall feel of the story. It exposes students to a different region of the world- Western Europe, a different format of a book, and also drops in different historical facts that can be useful in social studies units.

Purpose:
Independent read for students grades 2nd and above
I think this book wouldn't be best fit for a read aloud but if students were in a unit about regions of the world, multiculturalism, Europe in general, or just free reading then this would be excellent. It offers a lot of facts so if students present over the books they read it offers readily accessible material and in a simple vernacular.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wished the characters were better introduced within the text, as I wasn't sure who everybody was as I was reading it. I think this book could be really good for older children. It does the diary of a young girl thing without descending into superficialism (not that that's bad, I just think there's too much of that). It also reads as a bit of wish fulfillment -- i.e., there's no serious conflict and it more depicts a magical sort of life that I imagine many different girls would love to live.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet children's book about a young girl who lives in Giverny next-door to Claude Monet. The illustrations are charming and the text is filled with interesting facts about the 19th century art world.

[Charlotte Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet children's book. I love the illustration style and felt a special connection to the story since it's about Charlotte!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's book beautifully illustrated and narrated.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series for young girls.