Linnea is a young girl who loves spending time with her neighbor, Mr. Bloom. He’s gotten her interested in art, particularly in Monet’s water lilies paintings. They travel to France together so that Linnea can see Monet’s home for herself. (I have to ask where her parents are in all this and why they allow her to travel abroad with an elderly male neighbor!) They begin their trip in Paris and make it a point to see many of Monet’s paintings during their visit. But the highlight of the trip is when they travel outside Paris to see Giverny, Monet’s home and garden. There Linnea explores among the plants, recognizes many familiar sights from Monet’s paintings and learns all about his family.
Interestingly enough, Linnea in Monet’s Garden was published in 1985, which is just about when I visited Giverny. I’m fairly surprised I didn’t know about this book as a child! Because of the age of the book, some information is slightly dated (although updated? There’s a mention of most impressionist paintings being at Jeu de Paume but having been moved to Musee D’Orsay, which is where I’ve known them to live). Luckily, as with most books that are mainly about the past, a little outdated information won’t change much.
The slim size of this book belies the content, which includes art history, scads of references to literature, pictures of a wide array of plants and facts about important Parisian sites. There’s also a section which covers Monet’s complicated family life which involves at least one child born out of wedlock, some extra-marital affairs and the intermarrying of step-siblings. So you know, something you might want to be aware of. Because of the complexity and the content, I would recommend this for third grade and up, although sections could be read aloud to younger children. Of course, the book will have much more meaning to families that are invested in educating their children about art.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – Monet has a child with his girlfriend Camille before they marry. Alice and Monet live together before marriage. She is still married to someone else, a man who deserted her and her children. One of Monet’s children marries his step-sister. A man marries his deceased wife’s sister.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – Mr. Bloom points out that Monet is dead. One of Monet’s sons was run over and killed at the age of 88. Monet’s wife Camille dies of tuberculosis shortly after their second child is born. Alice’s husband dies. Monet’s step-daughter gets sick and dies after having two children. Monet’s second wife dies and his son dies. Mr. Bloom and Linnea visit a graveyard.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – Mr. Bloom buys wine for a picnic (for himself, not Linnea!!)
Frightening or Intense Things – None.
