Full of gorgeous reproductions of Renoir's finest work, this simple biographical account of Pierre Auguste Renoir's life focuses on his love for painting and how he adapted his artistic style in order to stay relevant. Venezia uses basic text (complete with expressive language and humor) to share Renoir's most notable works and the influences that shaped his artistic career. Venezia includes his own cartoons to offset the text. As a text for juvenile readers, the comics may get a chuckle, but do not further the story and may take away from the magic of Renoir's paintings. Renoir's art speaks for itself and the intended wit within the comics may be hard for a young audience to interpret. The photographs will enamor readers of all ages. In addition, the captions of the artwork are a necessity, but may confuse readers or further hinder fluent reading. In contrast, the world map and glossary of terms on the inside and back covers are added bonuses. These resources help the reader understand vocabulary that is specific to learning about artists. A simple yet straightforward account of Renoir's career as an artist with stunning illustrations throughout. This is a revised edition of the original 1996 publication. Part of the "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists" series. Reviewer: Sam Frenkel; Ages 7 to 9.
