This book is a biography of Henri Matisse for children. The book starts off talking about how Henri always had a drive to be an artist. Throughout the book, the reader hears about the issues he ran into along the way and how he eventually overcame them. By seeing Henri become a well-known artist after all the adversity, could drive the reader towards their dreams too. ( )

Henri is a young boy who is very artistic and creative and has always wanted to become an artist who paints in bright colors. However, he feels as though his life is dull and gray. He feels as though the only bright colors in his life come when he is dreaming and that is when he can be who he truly is. Henri's parents want him to go into the trade business, but Henri dreams of becoming an artist and eventually becomes a famous author. I liked this book because Henri paved his own path and knew who he truly was and who he wanted to become. He truly followed his dreams and did not give into what other people wanted him to do, which can be a huge inspiration to kids who read this story. ( )

This biography follows the life of painter Henri Matisse, who followed his dream of painting for sixty-five years. The story shares dreams Henri had when he was young and the careers he tried to follow as he grew up. However, when Henri finally discovered painting, he realized it was his life-long dream and passion and followed his heart until his death. Although he struggled with being recognized as an artist, and with poverty as he pursued his dream, the story shows Henri as a man brave enough to follow his dreams, regardless of what others said about him.
The illustrations are bold and full of color. They help to share the story of this artist through black and white portrait drawings and the rich, vibrant colors he used in his paintings.

This biography would be a book that would help 2nd and 3rd grade students to create images (incorporating art and creativity into their graphic organizer) using all senses before, after, and during a read aloud. It could also be used in conjunction with many other artists in a unit of study about art, focusing on its development through the centuries, and the success and even failures of artists as they pursued their passion and dreams. I would include this story as a visual aid and book in a content-area literacy center about art, with a focus on famous painters. I would include finger paints, watercolors, and other artist materials in the center so that students could create their own art, write opinions about their favorite artist and why. ( )

I liked the book "Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henry Matisse". The illustrations in this book are amazing. I especially liked that they reflected Matisse's style of painting, which is very important for a biography about a painter. Additionally, I enjoyed how the author wrote about the characters. She did a good job at showing the feelings of Matisse as she told the story of his life. The big idea of this book is about following your dreams and doing what makes you happy.

The Colorful Dreamer Biography
By Marjorie Blain Parker, Illustrated by Holly Berry

“The Colorful Dreamer” by Marjorie Blain Parker is a children’s biography about Henri Matisse told in a narrative form. Matisse first studied law in Paris but then began and excelled at art school. Parker’s descriptions were very strong and went along with Berry’s illustrations. When describing France Parker says, “It was an industrial town chocked with factories, clanking loom, and smoking chimneys.” This sets the time period for the readers. For example, today when children think of France they may only think of the Eiffel Tower, croissants, and the city of love. This clears any misconceptions of France in this era. I think the illustrator’s use of color was also notable. In the beginning the town and everyone in it was black in white. As the story talked about Henri’s imagination and his art the illustrations become full of color. This color (or lack thereof) represents the Matisse’s bright and colorful ideas as opposed to the things he found dull and unoriginal. Overall this biography can teach a reader that it is okay to first try something and fail at it. This failure will eventually lead to success. It is also okay to explore your options. Law and art are polar opposites, yet Matisse finally found his calling in art school. ( )