Edgar Degas: Paintings That Dance »

Edgar Degas is famous for his paintings of ballerinas, and that's what first attracts "Kristin" to his artwork. But as she studies him for her report, she discovers that his art ranged far beyond the ballet and she gradually learns exactly what makes Degas' work so unique.

Publishers Weekly

With a clear, accessible format, the Smart About Art series kicks off with Edgar Degas: Paintings that Dance by Maryann Cocca-Leffler; Claude Monet: Sunshine and Waterlilies by True Kelley; and Vincent van Gogh: Sunflowers and Swirly Stars by Joan Holub. Each presents factual information about each artist in the style of a school report, interjecting the narrative with the voice of a child writer. In Degas, for instance, "author" Kristin pastes in a photograph of herself in fourth position (aping one of Degas's sketches of a ballet dancer); in Monet, the narrator compares two paintings of the same scene, one by Renoir and one by Monet. Full-color photos and reproductions of the paintings illustrate the text. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.