The reader gallops through the story on the back of the unicorn, which will find shelter in the heart of a secret garden, a peaceful alcove where love is awaiting. The Lady and the Unicorn is an adventure tale of love and magic. The Unicorn's horn was known to have supreme powers and was a prize possession. It could turn polluted lakes and streams into drinkable water for woodland creatures. Hunted by a Feudal Lord, the Unicorn escapes into a secret garden to find a young lady in the middle of the garden playing an organ. She turns a mirror towards the Unicorn, who is magically transformed into a knight. He immediately declares his love for the lady, who smiles at him. The Unicorn Tapestries in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Cluny Museum in Paris, serves as the inspiration for the story. The book ends with information about the tapestries, that connects the illustrations to the reproductions of the tapestries in order to decipher the symbols and their meanings at the heart of the work. Kids and adults of all ages are sure to enjoy this beautifully illustrated and engaging story.

Beautifully illustrated in the style of Pablo Picasso, this tale of music's ability to soothe a savage beast introduces children to aspects of the great artist's work. The kingdom of Mirador is terrified of a monstrous, fire-spewing beast that lurks just outside the village walls. No one has actually seen the creature except for the king, whose constant reminder of impending danger turns the village gloomy and joyless. One spring day a troupe of musicians and their dog enters the gates. Suddenly there is fun and romance, song and dance. The people are no longer afraid--until the loathsome beast does, in fact, appear. What happens next will delight children and adults alike as the magic of art and music transforms screams of terror into peals of laughter. Drawing on details of Pablo Picasso's masterpiece Three Musicians, artist Vanessa Hie uses brightly hued watercolors, bold lines, and graphic images to familiarize children with Picasso's style. The book closes with a reproduction of Picasso's original painting and an engaging lesson on the artist's use of images and symbols, his fascination with theater and music, and his passionate pleas for peace in the wake of world war."

Henri Matisse s massive and joyous cutout work, The Parakeet and the Mermaid, is the basis for this delightful children s book about the unlikely friendship between a mermaid and a parakeet. Henri Matisse once said, What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity, devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter. It s no wonder his works are loved by children everywhere. In this charming book, Vanessa Hie and Veronique Massenot create a world based on Matisse s vision, in which a mermaid is thrust out of the sea by a massive storm. Stranded in a tree, not knowing how she can return to her home without legs, she meets a parakeet who is so moved by her plight he finds a way to help her. Vanessa Hie s gorgeous, deeply hued illustrations incorporate the shapes and colors found in Matisse s original masterpiece, which is reproduced at the end of the book. Massenot s simple but profound story of bravery and friendship is a delight to read. Together, the words and pictures tell a timeless story, while introducing young people to Matisse s artistry.