Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Philippe in Monet’s Garden
Illustrator: Lisa Canney Chesaux
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 1998 ISBN: 978-0878464562
Philippe is a frog who has the most magnificent legs. They are long and more muscular that any other frog's legs and they certainly make him stand out. Alas for Philippe, his exceptional legs also make the other frogs laugh at him and they tell him that "you just don't belong." This of course makes Philippe very sad but in the end his powerful legs save his life for when the frog catcher comes around, the other frogs are caught whereas Philippe is able to make a leaping getaway.
Philippe is determined that he is not going to be turned into a dish of frog's legs "buttered and baked, or fried" so he sets of to find a refuge where the frog catcher won't be able to get him. At long last he finds what he is looking for, in the garden of the famous painter, Claude Monet. Here at last Philippe can live in peace, watching the painter wield his brushes and living in Monet's beautiful lily pond.
This amusing little picture book is not only entertaining and wonderfully illustrated, but it also introduces young children to the work of Claude Monet. At the back of the book the author includes a note about the painter and a reproduction of one of Monet's most famous paintings.
