The Girl wih a Watering Can by Ewa Zadrzynska

[katekintailbc]

The Girl wih a Watering Can
by Ewa Zadrzynska

This book caught my eye because a reproduction of this painting was framed in my bedroom when I was growing up and my mom always compared me to this adorable curly-haired blond girl.

This book follows the girl from this painting through many different paintings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., which I have visited many times. When she goes into each the first time, the paintings are black and white drawings of the paintings--not quite sketches, but enough details so you can make out what the image is, especially if you know the painting. When she goes through them again, the whole painting is shown.

The basic concept is that this little girl is a mischievous trouble-maker who goes from painting to painting ruining each and then having to go back to make each right. This was a little sad for me. It's a great concept for the story, but I always imagined the little girl to be more proper and polite--not someone who would jump into Girl with a Hoop's painting and steal her hoop! It was a very clever concept, especially how she ends up making it up to the Girl with a Hoop. And it's a great story for any kid who's going to visit the art gallery because it shows a wide variety of art pieces and calls attention to little details in each that kids would be able to remember and identify.