What do you think?
A Magical Day with Matisse
With a narrative that will entertain art lovers of all ages, this new board book is a fun way to introduce young children to fine art. The little ones will love spending A Magical Day with Matisse in a world full of music, color, bobbing sailboats, and tickled toes. Playful rhyming texts accompany the artists timeless paintings in this little masterpiece.
22 pages, Board Book
First published March 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 15, 2021
I agree with other several other reviewers: this beautifully illustrated book could have had a prose story with it and been so much fun. Instead, they reach far and wide for some really sketchy rhymes. It doesn't shy away from Matisse's Dance and Music series, so fair warning: here be boobs!
The fourteen month old does not want us to read her this book. We are to turn the page directly to Matisse's 1916 painting Apples and let her stare at it until she gets bored and wanders off to get a different book. I know how she feels.
The fourteen month old does not want us to read her this book. We are to turn the page directly to Matisse's 1916 painting Apples and let her stare at it until she gets bored and wanders off to get a different book. I know how she feels.
January 10, 2026
This is one of a series of board books featuring art from well known artists. Here we find ten paintings from Matisse which are arranged so that the author can write a rhyming story appropriate for children.
I particularly liked seeing the paintings The Open Window, The Roofs of Collioure, and Interior at Nice.
Title contains a list of paintings and which museums where they may be viewed as well as the year they were painted.
I particularly liked seeing the paintings The Open Window, The Roofs of Collioure, and Interior at Nice.
Title contains a list of paintings and which museums where they may be viewed as well as the year they were painted.
May 6, 2021
Mommy likes the introduction to art. Nice rhyming story. The art may still be too abstract for isla. She was not interested in landscapes or still lifes. She did respond to the art that had people in it though!
March 7, 2021
Soft introduction to appreciating fine art.
August 26, 2026
Some lovely lovely pictures. Be aware of artistic nudity (no genitals shown)
June 26, 2008
I have a few of the books in the series.
On the plus side, I really like the concept - picture books introducing famous artists to young children. What could be cooler than that?
Unfortunately, I don't like the writing that much. Prose would be perfectly suited for these pictures, but instead the author keeps trying to write it in rhyme, and it falls very flat. The whole thing seems trite, and a lot of the rhymes and meter end up sounding forced.
I'd still be buying the books, despite this, because I like the idea so much, except we've run into a new snag - they're not very well put together. By which I mean that all of the books we have in this series started to fall apart within a year, a year and a half of their purchase. They're board books, and the nieces are actually too old to "need" board books - they're not rough on the books at all. This should not be happening. The shoddy construction *will* keep me from buying more books, where awkward text wouldn't.
If these books ever get printed in paperback, or maybe as a hardcover compilation, I'll probably buy them. But I cannot recommend that anybody buy the board books.
On the plus side, I really like the concept - picture books introducing famous artists to young children. What could be cooler than that?
Unfortunately, I don't like the writing that much. Prose would be perfectly suited for these pictures, but instead the author keeps trying to write it in rhyme, and it falls very flat. The whole thing seems trite, and a lot of the rhymes and meter end up sounding forced.
I'd still be buying the books, despite this, because I like the idea so much, except we've run into a new snag - they're not very well put together. By which I mean that all of the books we have in this series started to fall apart within a year, a year and a half of their purchase. They're board books, and the nieces are actually too old to "need" board books - they're not rough on the books at all. This should not be happening. The shoddy construction *will* keep me from buying more books, where awkward text wouldn't.
If these books ever get printed in paperback, or maybe as a hardcover compilation, I'll probably buy them. But I cannot recommend that anybody buy the board books.
February 7, 2017
Lovely way introduce my toddler to Master Matisse.
August 2, 2013
Where were all these awesome board books when I was first buying board books for my newborn babies? This book is incredible! An art appreciation lesson, it weaves a tale from the paintings of Matisse on each page. I even learned something; I want a print of Dance (II).
August 7, 2013
Rhyming story told as a journey through the famous paintings of Matisse in a board book. The rhythm would be good for reading to young children; although, some rhymes seem forced, they are connected to the works of art in a way that helps kids see what each piece is about.
October 10, 2014
This one was the most readable, and I liked it more than the others in the series. Nothing spectacular to write home about. I think these books are much better in theory thank in actuality. I would still buy something like this for my girls to look at, but I would not read this at story time.
August 3, 2007
He likes it because it's beautiful. Truth be told, it could be written better. (lots better, says Adam)
August 24, 2010
Matisse paintings paired with short, rhyming verses.
December 31, 2012
Bright paintings and rhyming text make this a great way to introduce children to art.
April 7, 2016
As an introduction to art, I love this Mini Masters series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews