ANNOTATION

A painter becomes famous when his paintings come to life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

An unknown painter becomes an overnight sensation when his paintings imitate life too well by quacking, crawling, and erupting all over Paris.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In this droll, sophisticated tale, an unknown artist enters a Paris contest with a painting of a duck; the repercussions are mighty when the painting begins to quack. Ages 3-up. (Oct.)

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2 Agee's strong solid shapes and somber colored drawings contrast with the clever and witty premise of his book. Set in Paris at the turn of the century, it recounts a grand art contest. Traditional academy painters show their grandiose masterpieces: The King on His Throne, The King on Horseback, The King in Armor. Then an unknown artist, Clousseau, shows his small painting of a duck. ``Outrageous'' is the response until the duck that he has painted quacks. All over Paris, his works come alive. A boa leaves its painting, black smoke billows from a painted volcano, and water gushes from a waterfall. Needless to say things get out of hand, and poor Clousseau lands in prison. One overlooked painting eventually saves the day. Agee's tongue-in-cheek scenario ends with a final double entendre. The outrageous yet gentle humor is sure to delight parents and children alike. Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library