The Boy Who Bit Picasso

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The Boy Who Bit Picasso tells the true story of Antony Penrose - son of the photographer Lee Miller and the painter and writer Roland Penrose - and his childhood friendship with the great artist. Vividly recalled are the pair's shared love of animals, enthusiasm for games and evident joy in art, as well as the many happy hours spent on Tony's farm in England and in Picasso's own cluttered houses and studios in France.

Enchanting illustrations accompany the text, including many artworks by Picasso, photographs by Lee Miller and specially commissioned drawings by children. An inspiring look at the creative practices of an artist, The Boy Who Bit Picasso is above all a nostalgic testament to friendship and happy days.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Perhaps the only thing more surprising than this book's title-which refers to when the author, as a boy, bit the world-famous artist-is Picasso's response. "Picasso turned around and bit me right back-hard!" That anecdote sums up the (successful) goal of the book: to humanize the man who left behind "nearly 2,000 paintings, more than 7,000 drawings, [and] well over 1,000 sculptures" when he died. Penrose, the son of painter Sir Roland Penrose and photographer Lee Miller, grew up in England with frequent visits from Picasso, a family friend. Writing as an adult in a childlike first-person voice (which hits a few strange notes, but is age-appropriate and accessible), Penrose describes time spent with Picasso, his children, and other members of his circle; numerous b&w photographs appear, along with original drawings by contemporary children. Reproductions of Picasso's works demonstrate the influence Penrose's family had on Picasso's art, perhaps most striking in an abstract portrait of Miller, which is paired with a photograph of her-her profile identical in both. It's a fascinating and highly personal vision of the artist. Ages 4-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-6-In this delightful volume, the author recounts growing up with Pablo Picasso as a family friend. Appropriate for the topic, the book is a work of art in itself, featuring brightly colored pages and stunning black-and-white photos, all supplemented by images of the work of Picasso, his children, or the author's mother, Lee Miller, a photographer and painter. Although the book may work well as an approachable introduction to the well-known and influential artist, it is not really a biography of Picasso or of the author. Short, simple paragraphs briefly introduce Picasso, his family, and the author's family, and describe the man's work and legacy in a voice clearly meant to imitate that of a child. While some readers may be turned off by the faux-childish tone, visual readers will be attracted to the bright, playful design. The book will also appeal to art lovers or students interested in the artist's life. For those whose interest is piqued, the last page features a glossary, a guide to museums where one can see Picasso's work, and brief summaries of people mentioned and relevant art styles. A solid purchase for any collection with an emphasis on art or artists.-Heather Talty, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

As far from a dry biography of Picasso as it gets, this clever offering presents the author's recollection of growing up as a family friend of the iconic artist. Penrose's parents his mother a photographer and his father a painter were part of the surrealist scene, and little Penrose practically grew up in Picasso's lap. It's revelatory fun to see how run-of-the-mill events in Penrose's life (like introducing Picasso to the family bull) became the subjects for serious works of art. Best of all, the reader begins to see the world as Picasso saw it. That block of wood? It's a woman if you paint on eyes and arms. Those broken pots? A baby, if reconstructed properly. That toy car? A monkey's head. Candid photos taken by Penrose's mother bring each mini adventure to life, and the bright reproductions of the art each seem chosen to elicit both clarity and wonder. It's clear from this book that Picasso was a master, but it's just as clear that, to Penrose. he will always be my most extraordinary friend. --Kraus, Danie. Copyright 2010 Booklist

Horn Book Review

This book's author, son of surrealist artist parents, describes his boyhood memories of family friend Pablo Picasso; he did, in fact, bite Picasso while playing once--and the artist bit back. Highlights include reproductions of Picasso's artwork along with interesting tidbits and guiding questions about individual pieces ("Take a look at the mother's face. Can you see what Picasso used to make it?"). Glos. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

"Picasso was great fun to play with. He liked to romp around on the floor and have pretend bullfights. His tweed jacket was nice and scratchy. He smelled good too. He smelled of cologne and French tobacco."To a set of seldom-seen photos taken by his mother, Lee Miller, interspersed with both pictures of roughly hewn toys and playful art created by Picasso and a page of drawings of the titular incident by modern children, Penrose adds appreciative comments and authentically sketchy childhood memories of a renowned family friend. Taken in France and England, the photos offer glimpses of the artist in his studio or posing with young Antony, along with shots of his own children, other friends such as George Braque and artwork done in a characteristic array of media and found materials. Images of colorful works from the author's personal collection are added as well; the author's little Noah's Ark set appears juxtaposed to a tiny Picasso piece calledMrs. Noah, for instance. The text itself adds playful notes with variations in size and weight, along with occasional wavy lines and is set on solid backgrounds of pale blues, yellows, lilacs and other pastel hues.Though certainly not a systematic overview of Picasso's life and career, this intimate, child's-eye view serves up a winning glimpse of the artist's personality and unparalleled creative breadth. (glossary, thumbnail bios)(Memoir. 8-10)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.