GEORGE PAINTS HIS HOUSE

In a French import that explores emotional and aesthetic responses to color, George the duck (George’s Store at the Shore, 1998) tries to settle on a color to paint his house. Red? The ladybugs are encouraging: “Red is joyful, a splendid color!” Blue? “The color of dreams,” sings a bluebird. Orange? Purple? Black? George’s country villa, surrounded by flowers and vineyards, makes an idyllic background for his considerations; although Bassäde mixes flora from different seasons together and misnames (at least for the US audience) some yellow flowers “mimosa,” her free brushwork and soft hues create a pleasing atmosphere. George eventually chooses a harmonious gray-green, then invites all of his animal advisors to a garden party, shown on a wordless spread in which all his options are visually reprised. This is a horizon-expanding next step after color primers such as Bill Martin’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967). (Picture book. 6-7)