P. I. Maltbie

This book is about Mr. Twain and his cat Bambino. When Mr. Twain's wife---Levy died, he was so depressed that he refuse to meet anyone and shut himself in grief. However, his cat Bambino once accidentally run out of the house and Mr. Twain realized how much people care about him. He was encouraged and returned to life again.

This book is more like an illustrated book. The function of pictures are more like a companion for texts, adding some explanation and atmosphere for the texts. Comparing to other picture books for young children, the chunk of text in this book is larger. There are also some deeper meanings behind words, such as, loss, loneliness, family relationship, death, social figure, media, etc. I think there are a lot to discuss about why a running away cat could bring Mr. Twain so much to change him to be "open" again.… (meer)

Devastated by the recent death of his wife, Livy, and by the subsequent mental breakdown of his oldest daughter, Clara, Samuel Clemens - better known as Mark Twain, famous author and bon vivant - withdraws into himself in this poignant picture-book biography, refusing to leave his Fifth Avenue home, and sinking deeper and deeper into depression. Only Bambino, the coal-black cat entrusted to his care when Clara was admitted to a clinic, brings him any comfort. When Bambino disappears out a window one day and does not return, the reclusive author must once again deal with the outside world, as he searches for his lost feline. Placing an advertisement in the papers, and offering a reward, Twain is overwhelmed by the response he receives, discovering in the process that the public truly have a place for him in their hearts, and that by worrying about someone else, he is taken out of his own trouble.

Bambino and Mr. Twain is just a delightful book, with a heartwarming true story from author P.I. Maltbie, whose other picture-book biographies include Picasso and Minou and Claude Monet: The Painter Who Stopped the Trains, and lovely illustrations from Daniel Miyares. As a cat-lover, I enjoyed everything about this book, from the charmingly decorated endpapers to the informative afterword that provided additional details about Twain and Bambino. A moving portrait of grief, it also offers a glimpse of one of America's most celebrated authors. Recommended to all young cat lovers, to children who enjoy biography, and to Mark Twain fans. It can be paired with The Extraordinary Mark Twain, another picture-book which highlights the author's relationship with his daughter Susy.… (meer)

Claude Monet wanted to paint trains to wow the people and the critics. But first, he had to get a station master to agree to stop the trains just for him.

I think the text and illustrations work well together to create a sense of time and place. The author's note and artist's note are both wonderful, relaying additional facts and sources to the story. I think this is a fine example of what children's non-fiction should be.

More on the blog: rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/11/claude-monet-painted-who-stopped-trains....… (meer)