Set in a Tahitian village very much like the ones Gauguin painted, this beautifully illustrated book draws on the figures in Gauguin's painting, Arearea, or "happiness" - two women, a red dog, and a large stone idol - to weave a simple but profound tale. Vahine-Noa, queen of daylight, lives for happiness and colour while her sister, Vahine Po, queen of the night, lives for her dreams, darkness, and silence. Bringing these two women together is a young boy, Tevai, and his dog, who undergo a magical experience that unites their village and helps them understand the importance of being true to your feelings. Throughout the story, Vanessa Hie's gorgeous illustrations recall Gauguin's colorful, mystical paintings of the South Seas. The book closes with a stunning reproduction of its inspiration, Gauguin's painting Arearea. Children will be drawn into Hie's intricate paintings as they follow Tevai's story, which, along with a brief introduction to Gauguin and his work, offers a superb look into the life and art of this hugely influential artist.

 

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2012 by Prestel .

HELENE KERILLIS is a teacher and writer, who has written over 40 books for children and young adults. STEPHANE GIREL is an illustrator, who has been awarded the prestigious French children's book prize Prix Sorcieres twice. Veronique Massenot is the author of numerous books for children, including The Great Wave and Journey on a Cloud, both by Prestel. Vanessa Hie is an author and illustrator of children's books.