Who Stole Mona Lisa? - Hardcover

Knapp, Ruthie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1599900580 ISBN 13: 9781599900582

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2010

Synopsis

She has a legendary smile, and millions come to see her every day. Some say she is the most famous painting in the world. Who is she? Why, the Mona Lisa, of course! But did you know that she was once stolen from her wall at the Louvre? Who took her? Why? Where was she hidden? How was she found? Someone call the police!

Narrated by the lady of the enigmatic smile herself--and brought to life with gorgeous paintings that take the reader from da Vinci's renaissance right up to the present day--this is a stylishly whimsical account of the glorious, wonderful, sometimes dangerous life of the best recognized painting of all time. Discover the secrets behind her mysterious smile, and hear for yourself the amazing true story of her kidnapping.

About this title

About the Author

RUTHIE KNAPP is the author of the Off the Wall Museum Guide for Kids series. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

JILL McELMURRY was born in California and grew up in New Mexico. When she's not producing books such as Mad About Plaid and I'm Not a Baby!, Jill enjoys working with her husband and dog on their farm.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3–Judging by the interest from children's authors, the theft of the Renaissance masterpiece is as intriguing as the woman's elusive smile. Patrick Lewis's The Stolen Smile (Creative, 2004) is told from the thief's viewpoint, and the art has a Cubist flavor. Meghan McCarthy's Steal Back the Mona Lisa (Harcourt, 2006) is a cartoon version with a child detective. Knapp, like Rick Jacobson in The Mona Lisa Caper (Tundra, 2005), presents the mysterious woman's perspective. In contrast to Jacobson's somewhat lengthy text, Knapp employs the cadences of a storyteller. Short sentences gain momentum from internal rhymes, repeated opening phrases, and humorous details. Beginning with da Vinci's approach to the portrait sitter's plight, a museum guide quips: “If she scratched, he asked if she had ants in her pants! When Mona was moody, he hired musicians and clowns to amuse her.” McElmurry's gouache scenes are lively and varied. The framing story features contemporary museum-goers listening intently to the commentary; set against a white background, every head tilts horizontally toward the painting. The main narrative involves the history of the piece, from creation through its theft and restoration. The cooler introductory palette becomes warmer, harmonizing with the predominance of terra cotta against parchment backgrounds; stylized costumes provide pattern through their vertical folds. Roundels and lunettes frame and reveal interior actions against backdrops of buildings and maps. The titular question is answered in more detail in an author's note, but the fun is in imagining, with the author, what Mona Lisa can see, smell, feel, and hear throughout five centuries of observation.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1599900580
• ISBN 13: 9781599900582
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: McElmurry Jill