The Artist and Me

Fictional children written into biographies of classic artists are usually ardent fans of the artists’ work. Not here. Peacock’s narrator confesses that, as a child, he lived in Arles, knew van Gogh—and bullied him, along with the rest of the town. Adults will recognize the artist, who hopes to “tell the truth by painting pictures” as van Gogh, but to the narrator, he’s just a madman. “We called him horrible names. We threw things at him. It made us almost giddy.” Fortunately, van Gogh does not pay much attention to his tormentors. One day boy and artist meet in a famous wheat field, and the boy has a flash of insight into the power of van Gogh’s work. Only as an adult does he realize who his victim was. Casson’s poignant, vibrantly colored drawings are both faithful to the essence of van Gogh’s work and wholly her own. This is only peripherally an account of van Gogh’s last years; it’s really a story about deceptive appearances, and about how age brings repentance. Closing notes provide details about van Gogh’s life and work. Ages 5–9. (Apr.)