Crocodile's Masterpiece

by Max Velthuijs

Book Overview

Crocodile is a great artist but he's not managed to sell many paintings. So when Elephant moves in next door and wants to buy one, Crocodile is delighted. But Elephant can't decide which one he'd... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374316589
• ISBN13: 9780374316587
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 1 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.1" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

4 1/2 When I (Don't) Paint My Masterpiece

The best thing about this book is Max Velthuijs' soft yet vivid watercolors. In this account of a Crocodile artist and his prospective customer, Elephant, Velthuij paints pictures of Crocodile's paintings, as well as illustrating the text. Many of these text-related pictures are drawn with framing borders, thus increasing the `play within a play" feeling. There's also an interesting comment about the enjoyment of art; Velthuij suggests that one's imagination--playing across an empty canvas-creates the best pictures of all. Elephant is initially angry to learn that the creative magic lies within in hi head rather than the `painted" picture, but finally realizes "the real beauty of your masterpiece." The book, therefore, is simultaneously pro- and anti-art, if art is defined as a person-made tangible object. It's a little bit confusing, but I doubt that this book's audience is going to get into the philosophical musings that an over-educated adult may contrive. Mostly, this is a simple, fun book, with warm illustrations by the award winning Mr. Velthuijs. I just wish he hadn't drawn the crocodile smoking a pipe.

FANTASY RULES

Crocodile's masterpiece is a great book about FANTASY and what it can do to you. Can someone have more fantasies with less ? This is also a book about art, being smart and phylosophy. Buy it, you'll never regret it ! It IS a MASTERPIECE !