VAN GOGH'S DOG

Vincent van Gogh feels artistically stifled until a small dog shows him beauty he’s overlooked.

A downcast Van Gogh is full of self-doubt. “How can I paint if I never go anywhere exciting?” Enter a small dog who mysteriously appears from a wheat field before dashing away with the artist’s paintbrushes. The naughty pup leads Van Gogh on a chase through the places found in his works. They cavort through “bright-yellow sunflowers” that leave the artist crowing, “Such colors! Such light!” and into a town, past the establishment from Van Gogh’s famed red-toned Night Café (he reassesses the location as “bright and welcoming”). After the dog’s antics necessitate a rescue from the river under a painterly, starry night, Van Gogh returns home, bursting with ideas, bringing the newly named Sunny along. There’s no doubt the intrepid pup is a child-friendly tour guide, though a note clarifying whether Van Gogh actually owned a pet might have enriched the book. Altogether, the adventurous duo introduces nine different paintings, reproduced as a mini art gallery on the last page—an especially valuable component for teachers or adults planning museum trips. Helmer’s energetic art winks at but doesn’t replicate Van Gogh’s style; her bright, confident paint and digital illustrations rely heavily on the dabbed lines, swirls, and spirals that Van Gogh favored.

A creative romp through a renowned artist’s world.