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Katie
Katie And The Sunflowers
While visiting the art museum, Katie has an adventure stepping in and out of five paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cezanne, in a story with information about Post-impressionism and the particular paintings and artists.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2001
About the author
James Mayhew
138 books88 followersJames Mayhew's first book for children was Katie's Pictures Show, (Orchard Books 1989) establishing the long running series about a child's adventures in an art gallery. Many of his books have a cultural agenda and James is passionate about introducing children to art, music, opera, ballet and traditional tales.
He has published over 60 books, and illustrated and written for many other colleagues including Philippa Pearce, Martin Waddell and Jackie Morris.
As a storyteller he has devised and performed a series of sell-out concerts for children with the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, and has participated in prom performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
He has also created designs and illustrations for the Kirov Mariinsky Opera of St Petersburg and in 1994 won the New York Times award for one of the ten best illustrated books on the year (The Boy and The Cloth of Dreams).
He has made regular appearances at the National Galleries in Edinburgh and London and visits many schools, and arts and literary festivals.
James is a member of the Art Worker's Guild and the Society of Authors.
He has published over 60 books, and illustrated and written for many other colleagues including Philippa Pearce, Martin Waddell and Jackie Morris.
As a storyteller he has devised and performed a series of sell-out concerts for children with the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, and has participated in prom performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
He has also created designs and illustrations for the Kirov Mariinsky Opera of St Petersburg and in 1994 won the New York Times award for one of the ten best illustrated books on the year (The Boy and The Cloth of Dreams).
He has made regular appearances at the National Galleries in Edinburgh and London and visits many schools, and arts and literary festivals.
James is a member of the Art Worker's Guild and the Society of Authors.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 13, 2018
Very nice book about a little girl whose grandmother takes her for a rainy-day trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. While granny naps, Katie thinks she will collect some Van Gosh sunflower seeds for their garden, but knocks over the vase. Soon other paintings and their inhabitants are drawn into the effort to get everything put back in the right frame.
(That little Gauguin dog is to blame for most of the trouble.)
(That little Gauguin dog is to blame for most of the trouble.)
November 20, 2017
As an eighteen-year-old author, I don't normally post long reviews for children's books.
This wonderful story is the exception.
Katie and the Sunflowers has always been my absolute favorite children's book! When I was in kindergarten, my sister brought it home from the elementary school library. After reading it for the first time, I begged her to bring it home every weekend. I honestly believe my love for art and literature developed from this little book. I'm a huge fan of Vincent Van Gogh's artwork, especially the beautiful collection of sunflower paintings. I recently visited the Starry Night painting in the New York Museum of Modern Art, and it reminded me of the illustrated scene from Katie and the Sunflowers. This story will always hold a place in my heart and childhood memories.
This wonderful story is the exception.
Katie and the Sunflowers has always been my absolute favorite children's book! When I was in kindergarten, my sister brought it home from the elementary school library. After reading it for the first time, I begged her to bring it home every weekend. I honestly believe my love for art and literature developed from this little book. I'm a huge fan of Vincent Van Gogh's artwork, especially the beautiful collection of sunflower paintings. I recently visited the Starry Night painting in the New York Museum of Modern Art, and it reminded me of the illustrated scene from Katie and the Sunflowers. This story will always hold a place in my heart and childhood memories.
August 12, 2021
A fun introduction to famous painters!
April 5, 2016
hem eğlenceli hem öğretici tanımlaması bu seri için rahatça kullanılabilir. ilk okumuş olduğumuz "yıldızlı gece"deki tabloları bu kitabın içinde de fark edince oğlumun: "anne bak, van go'nun iskemlesi, bak bu da yıldızlı gece..." diye tanıtıma başlaması çok hoşuma gitti. o yaşta ben van gogh'tan da resimlerinden de bihaberdim. ayrıca kitabı okur okumaz beyefendinin, aynı yıldızlı gece'de yaptığımız gibi, bir röprodüksiyon isteğinde bulunması kitabın ne kadar amacına uygun olduğunu bir kez daha göstermiş oldu.
March 17, 2017
A nice introduction to the post-impressionists although I personally find them hard to pronounce and sililarly found the many french phrases in the book difficult to read aloud. In one part I wondered if the author was writing more for an implied reader (male like himself) where it seemed he necessarily introduced the women as "beautiful", but maybe he was trying to be pluralistic about "difference" or something.
The female protagonist is lively and shows initiative which intitially wreaks havoc as the fourth wall on a series of paintings is destroyed and everything gets jumbled up. But there is friendship and mild adventure and the desire to set things to rights (conveniently with pirate gold that was a bit deus ex machina and a scene that was a nice try but needs more post-colonial unpicking). In the author's defence, not only was the protagonist and her friend likeable but his main agenda of introducing children to a series of famous post-impressionist paintings (by some well known male painters) I think succeeds. It may be that he is showing off how well he can reproduce them. The text is very long but my 3-5 children gladly sat through it all and seemed to take much of it in.
It could be used with other provocations to foster an appreciation of art at a young age.
The female protagonist is lively and shows initiative which intitially wreaks havoc as the fourth wall on a series of paintings is destroyed and everything gets jumbled up. But there is friendship and mild adventure and the desire to set things to rights (conveniently with pirate gold that was a bit deus ex machina and a scene that was a nice try but needs more post-colonial unpicking). In the author's defence, not only was the protagonist and her friend likeable but his main agenda of introducing children to a series of famous post-impressionist paintings (by some well known male painters) I think succeeds. It may be that he is showing off how well he can reproduce them. The text is very long but my 3-5 children gladly sat through it all and seemed to take much of it in.
It could be used with other provocations to foster an appreciation of art at a young age.
September 17, 2019
This is an introduction to post-impressionist painters from France. The illustrations are gorgeous and the writing style is intellectual yet simple. Also, I'm a bit biased because I love Vincent Van Gogh.
November 22, 2021
On a rainy day, Katie and her grandmother visit the museum where Katie promptly goes off on an adventure through art!
Read with my 6yo to learn more about Van Gogh and his art!
Read with my 6yo to learn more about Van Gogh and his art!
January 3, 2015
Katie and the Sunflowers written by James Mahew brings impressionist paintings to life...quite literally!
Several of the famous paintings are incorporated into the story and their most famous works...Van Gough's 'Sunflowers' and 'Cafe Terrace at Night', Gaugin's 'Breton Girls Dancing' and 'Tahitian Pastorals' and Cezanne's 'Apples and Oranges'.
As always, Grandma provides the vehicle for the adventure. This time is a trip to the gallery. Much to Katie's delight, the paintings come to life! she manages to topple over the vase in the 'Sunflowers' painting,climb inside another painting and play with the 'Breton Girls' and actually bring them out of the painting into the gallery. They end up chasing the girls' dog into 'Cafe Terrace at Night' and causing mayhem. Chased by the waiter, they jump into 'Apples and Oranges' and cause even more chaos by tumbling fruit out into the gallery!They finally encounter the dog barking at 'Tahitian Pastorals' where they go for a paddle and discover buried treasure! Katie reimburses everyone for the mess with the gold coins and keeps a few of the sunflower seeds in her pocket (for future planting?)
Inside the front cover, there are instructions for growing sunflowers, so perhaps Katie will indeed plant her seeds!
The back cover includes a useful reference about the painters mentioned in the story.
This book not only has lovely illustrations which are invaluable to the story but the very fact that it references such important and iconic painters makes it a wonderful and useful addition to both KS1 and KS2.
It's versatility as a reading book, helpful to EAL and SEN can also bring an art lesson or science lesson to life. The only limitation to the use of this book would be your imagination. I highly recommend it.
Several of the famous paintings are incorporated into the story and their most famous works...Van Gough's 'Sunflowers' and 'Cafe Terrace at Night', Gaugin's 'Breton Girls Dancing' and 'Tahitian Pastorals' and Cezanne's 'Apples and Oranges'.
As always, Grandma provides the vehicle for the adventure. This time is a trip to the gallery. Much to Katie's delight, the paintings come to life! she manages to topple over the vase in the 'Sunflowers' painting,climb inside another painting and play with the 'Breton Girls' and actually bring them out of the painting into the gallery. They end up chasing the girls' dog into 'Cafe Terrace at Night' and causing mayhem. Chased by the waiter, they jump into 'Apples and Oranges' and cause even more chaos by tumbling fruit out into the gallery!They finally encounter the dog barking at 'Tahitian Pastorals' where they go for a paddle and discover buried treasure! Katie reimburses everyone for the mess with the gold coins and keeps a few of the sunflower seeds in her pocket (for future planting?)
Inside the front cover, there are instructions for growing sunflowers, so perhaps Katie will indeed plant her seeds!
The back cover includes a useful reference about the painters mentioned in the story.
This book not only has lovely illustrations which are invaluable to the story but the very fact that it references such important and iconic painters makes it a wonderful and useful addition to both KS1 and KS2.
It's versatility as a reading book, helpful to EAL and SEN can also bring an art lesson or science lesson to life. The only limitation to the use of this book would be your imagination. I highly recommend it.
July 22, 2020
This is one of my favourite of the Katie books, and my 3 year old too. I think the ones where she's paired with a kid and looking at the works of multiple different artists work the best. A fun story that takes Katie through the post-impressionists, which I didn't even realize was a coherent group of artists before reading this. I like this one too because it shows Katie as a bit mischevious but also good hearted, she makes messes, but she also makes efforts to clean them up.
Would recommend to anyone who likes books about exploration, art, adventure and imagination!
Would recommend to anyone who likes books about exploration, art, adventure and imagination!
June 28, 2009
Katie goes the museum and knocks over the vase in Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers, she then travels through other paintings trying to make things right again.
This is a wonderful book; a lovely way to introduce children to famous works of art and get them to think creatively about people and places inside of paintings.
Ages: 5-8
This is a wonderful book; a lovely way to introduce children to famous works of art and get them to think creatively about people and places inside of paintings.
Ages: 5-8
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October 8, 2009Story of a little girl that enters into famous paintings at the museum. Great for art teachers and art lovers.I am personally drawn to any book about art. What I like about this book is that the story reminds me of my own experience with art. Great art drawns me into the painting. This happens literally in this book. I would love to do a cross-curricular activity with our art teachers.
April 21, 2012
In this book, Katie is in a museum and she is able to jump into famous portraits and take a new adventure. This would be a great book to read to the class to get them to use their imagination and connect to art. I would have them choose a piece of art and write a story of them in the setting of the picture.
January 31, 2019
This book was unlike any book I have read before. The main character, Katie, gets lost in paintings by postimpressionists and explores them. This is such a fun story to use to introduce famous artists to students.
June 5, 2020
What fun! Going to the museum and entering famous paintings! These books introduce young children to modern art and artists!! I hope parents and teachers are reading these to K, first and second graders! I hope they are talking about the painting and artists with the children!
June 28, 2020
I agree with another reviewer that the plot is just there to tie all the paintings together, but that's okay with me. I thought it was quite clever. I enjoyed this book more than I've enjoyed other books in this series that I've read.
April 5, 2022
El libro “Carlota y las semillas de girasol” es un libro fascinante. El autor se preocupó de realizar ilustraciones muy bien hechas, con muchos colores, donde se muestran las emociones y acciones de los personajes, pudiendo saber lo que piensan los personajes. Un ejemplo es que las ilustraciones tienen mucho detalle, lo que ayuda a entender mejor el libro y lo que quiere decir. También la trama del libro es muy interesante porque muestra las aventuras de una niña y lo que le lleva realizar travesuras.
Muchos lectores se van a sentir curiosos con la historia porque quieren saber qué va a hacer el personaje después, donde se va a meter, que va a hacer, lo que hace que los niños estén atentos y motivados sobre el libro. También al final del libro, se realiza una descripción de los pintores que aparecen en el libro y las técnicas que ocupan, lo que despierta la curiosidad de los niños de aprender nuevas cosas
Muchos lectores se van a sentir curiosos con la historia porque quieren saber qué va a hacer el personaje después, donde se va a meter, que va a hacer, lo que hace que los niños estén atentos y motivados sobre el libro. También al final del libro, se realiza una descripción de los pintores que aparecen en el libro y las técnicas que ocupan, lo que despierta la curiosidad de los niños de aprender nuevas cosas
July 1, 2018
Katie is back helping Grandma plant seeds in her garden, but it starts to rain. What to do? Go watch TV, play a video game? NO! Go to the art museum with Grandma. Once again Katie roams the museum and chooses one of the van Gogh paintings Sunflowers to admire. Wanting some seeds to plant she reaches in and is surprised to touch seeds, but she bumps the vase and flowers and vase tumbles onto the museum floor. Needing to clean up the mess fast she begins looking for help but, of course, things get complicated.
Another great adventure in art coming alive.
Another great adventure in art coming alive.
October 30, 2017
Katie visits the art museum on a rainy day, and starts an adventure when she accidentally knocks over the vase of sunflowers in Van Gogh's famous painting. Artwork comes alive for her as she dashes about the works of van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne, trying to fix her mistake. This is a cute and clever way to expose kids to famous works of art. However, the plot itself is not super exciting - merely a means to tie the different artworks together.
April 30, 2025
I was somewhat disappointed in this particular title in the Katy series about her adventures in an art museum as I thought it would focus on only Van Gogh, but it was really about post impressionists and included a two paintings from Van Gogh, two from Gauguin, and one from Cezanne. IThe title was still an entertaining adventure and Mayfield is creative in the way he chooses five paintings to create a storyline. One page of brief biographical info included info on the three artists.
March 18, 2024
Beautifully written. Katie gets to enter inside the paintings and become part of them. She does make a bit of a mess along the way but she is sure to clean up behind her to show her aesthetic appreciation.
October 4, 2025
Making notes for myself here for future art study lessons to go with this book:
Sunflowers - Vincent Van Gogh
Breton Girls Dancing - Paul Gauguin
Cafe Terrace at Night - Vincent Van Gogh
Still Life with Apples and Oranges - Paul Cezanne
Tahitian Pastorals - Paul Gauguin
Postimpressionists
Sunflowers - Vincent Van Gogh
Breton Girls Dancing - Paul Gauguin
Cafe Terrace at Night - Vincent Van Gogh
Still Life with Apples and Oranges - Paul Cezanne
Tahitian Pastorals - Paul Gauguin
Postimpressionists
January 3, 2018
One of my favourite children's books of all time that probably first sparked my love for Van Gogh and his art. It is just as warm and uplifting as I remember it being when I was a kid.
March 10, 2018
Imagination, learning about art and artists. Post-impressionists. One page of back matter about the artists.
June 11, 2019
Classic Katie
September 11, 2019
This was a really sweet book that could be used for history or art class. The pictures are beautifully made.
July 19, 2020
Another wonderful adventure with Katie and the art of Van Gogh! 🌻
October 14, 2020
Lovely introduction to various works of art.
March 21, 2021
Great book with loads of cross curricula links - however, better suited to slightly older children
October 14, 2021
A lovely, magical picture book.
December 1, 2021
Very fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews