(2) K-3 Illustrated by E. B. Goodale. In April 2019, people held their breath as the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral burned. Among the priceless items to survive the flames were beehives housed on the cathedral's roof. Browne's lyrical picture book tells the story of the bees who call Notre-Dame home and the fire that threatened their hives. Drawing parallels between the cooperative worker bees and the cooperation displayed by rescue workers during and after the catastrophic fire, the story takes on greater symbolism: "Come! Rebuild. Work with each other. You are stronger together." Goodale's mixed-media illustrations combine printing, colored pencils, and a variety of paints and collage materials to create a vibrant spring in Paris before the explosion of smoke and flame encroaches on the idyllic scene. Yellows, pinks, and greens are replaced by violent reds and oranges, while clouds of gray smoke that engulf the images fill the once-open spreads. Images of the burning cathedral and the valiant efforts of rescue workers effectively build tension. The welcome news of the bee colony's survival closes the story, while details in the concluding note let readers know that the difficult task of rebuilding Notre-Dame is underway.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(1) 4-6 In his third graphic-novel outing (New Kid, rev. 1/19; Class Act, rev. 11/20), thirteen-year-old Jordan Banks no longer sees himself as the new kid at elite Riverdale Academy Day School; he's the "new and improved" kid ("Jordan 2.0"), and he has a big decision to make: continue at RAD or go to art school. He wants to pursue art, but he's afraid of having to start all over again. First, though, he and his friends are going on a class trip to Paris--along with nemesis Andy. This book by Coretta Scott King and Newbery Award–winning author Craft effectively uses brightly colored panels, speech bubbles, dialogue, and black-and-white sketchbook pages to portray the challenges of an overseas school trip for Black students as well as of this diverse group of students as a whole in navigating a new city and their own relationships. When one of the friends finally confronts Andy about years of verbal torture, the tone of the trip changes, and the students, including Andy, begin to take responsibility for how they want to be treated and how they treat one another, returning home with renewed commitment to making Riverdale a good school for everyone. Pair this with Santat's graphic-memoir treatment of a similar European trip, A First Time for Everything (rev. 1/23).

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Brett Helquist. The Mona Lisa wasn't the world's most famous painting when it disappeared from the Louvre in 1911. Day starts his narrative at the point of the theft, then jumps forward and backward, tracing Leonardo da Vinci's career, what (little) is known about the painting's subject, how the Mona Lisa became a pop culture icon, and its whereabouts today. In between the story's many diversions (e.g., early forensic science, the media's role in hyping the theft), readers also follow the path of the painting away from the museum and into the pages of history, which Day delivers with a dose of whimsy as he describes a case that had more than its share of ridiculous moments. The book combines age-appropriate true crime with art history and historiography. The nonlinear structure may take some getting used to, but it serves the book's goal of drawing parallels between elements of the theft and the Mona Lisa's current place in our culture. Helquist's cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations do an excellent job of matching the narrative voice and bringing the book's dramatic moments to life. A lengthy source list is appended.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Clara Abigail Poole causes quite a scene when she hurtles across the skies of western Michigan in a plastic lawn chair attached to hundreds of balloons. After she crash-lands and is grounded by her father, Clara's stunt captures the attention of one Harold Habberdish, who arrives from Paris with a proposal: join "the most ambitious and breathtaking adventure race ever conceived," a hot-air balloon race around the world. Against her father's wishes, Clara runs away from home--and from the guilt she feels for the accident that killed her mother--and flies to Paris to join the race. Because she is so young and inexperienced, she is partnered with seasoned aeronaut Greta Gildersleeve and her monkey copilots. What ensues is a madcap tale with oddball characters, intrigue, and new friendships made. Tyng's prose is appropriately light and action-verb-driven, complete with sound effects ("Thwack! Pop! Poppity-pop!"). Beyond all the excitement, though, this is, at its heart, a father-daughter story and one about the long road--or flight--toward acceptance and forgiveness. Told with a light touch--lighter than air, you might say.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) YA Wilson (White Rose, rev. 7/19) again traces a real-life young woman's activism in a novel in verse. Gerda Pohorylle, the daughter of Polish immigrants living in Germany, is taught to be true to her Jewish self "behind closed doors / and / assimilate in German spaces / outside the home." As the Nazis gradually seize power, Gerda replaces her assimilation with political protest; after an arrest, she immigrates to Paris. There, several mentors--including Andre Friedmann, who becomes her professional and romantic partner--help her pursue her passion, photography. In order to command higher commissions, Gerda publicly reinvents the two of them as the ­glamorous Robert Capa and Gerda Taro. When the Spanish Civil War breaks out, Capa and Taro, sympathizing with republican resistance to Franco's fascist uprising, journey to Spain to chronicle the conflict. Wilson adroitly lays the foundation for Gerda's early Anderssein, or "otherness"; her physical isolation from her family while in Paris; and the awakening of her life's purpose. Appended author's notes separate fact from fiction and give more information about historical figures mentioned, the Spanish Civil War, and Taro's legacy. A bibliography and glossaries for German, French, and Spanish words complete the book. Pair with Aronson and Budhos's biography Eyes of the World: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the Invention of Modern Photojournalism (rev. 5/17).

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) 4-6 At school Marty keeps a low profile to conceal the difficulties of his home life: a single mother who hoards and who lives with agoraphobia. Gracie comes from the prosperous side of the tracks but has challenges of her own: a busy, neglectful single dad and hearing loss. On the plus side, Marty has a warm, eccentric grandfather who gardens and encourages Marty's dream to one day visit the Eiffel Tower, and Gracie has a full complement of confidence. They also, increasingly in this story of a growing friendship, have each other. Just when readers think they know what familiar middle-grade-fictional territory they are in, Welsh writer Lewis throws a curveball toward magical realism and tall tale. The seed that kindly Grandad gave Marty for his birthday grows into a gigantic pumpkin, and Grandad decides to turn it into a boat and sail with Marty and Gracie to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. The narrative tension switches from that of unreliable parents and school bullies to ­pumpkin-craft-threatening waves in the English Channel. With lots of help from a supportive community, the three succeed in their odyssey and the theme of following your dream (no matter how loopy) is made concrete. The two modes of storytelling don't entirely mesh, but the total effect is immensely likable.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) K-3 Translated by George L. Newman. Illustrated by Bruno Heitz. As Grandpa visits his Parisian grandchildren, they walk around the city and begin to notice and discuss the art of their surroundings, from street art to architecture. This leads Grandpa to start at the beginning, allowing for the titular survey of Western art. The focus here is on painting, sculpture, and architecture as we move chronologically through different time periods and places: from prehistory, to Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, to ancient Greece and Rome, to the Middle Ages, and finally to the Renaissance. The narrative moves at a fast pace to cover all this ground, and the information is quite dense--comic panels incorporate maps, timelines, sidebars, cross sections, ­occasional footnotes, and a copious amount of typewritten text. This denseness is mitigated by the cartoon style and balanced color palette of the illustrations, the numerous asides shown in speech bubbles, and the continuing dialogue between Grandpa and the kids. While the focus of this history lesson is squarely on the art, it's also made clear that art cannot be divorced from social and political contexts. Back matter includes photographs of various artifacts for each period with generous captions, a glossary, and an index.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) 4-6 Narrator Julieta Leal--smart, curious, and prone to causing unintentional trouble--is thrilled to be accompanying her dad, an art handler at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, on a trip to Paris to collect some pieces from the Louvre on loan for a new exhibit. At first, Julieta enjoys visiting Parisian landmarks and (not) eating escargot; she also accompanies her dad on his work, giving readers intriguing behind-the-scenes glimpses of famous museums and palaces. But when the Louvre's Regent Diamond is stolen, Julieta and her father are the prime suspects. Now Julieta needs to catch the thief and clear their names so they can make it home in time for the birth of her baby brother. Julieta's dad is "honestly surprised at the amount of havoc a nine-year-old can cause in less than a week," but ultimately it's Julieta's eye for detail, love of Greek mythology, and tendency to act on impulse that save the day. Julieta and her family are Mexican American ("the J in Julieta sounds like the hooting of an owl. Like whoooo-lieta"), and she is bilingual in English and Spanish (and even learns a little French). Readers of this debut author's entertaining middle-grade mystery will appreciate the back matter, which includes a glossary and more information about the Regent Diamond and other works of art mentioned in the book, complete with photographs.

Reviewer: Anamaría Anderson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(2) YA This heartfelt biography traces Ballets Russes star/choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky's (1890–1950) trajectory from lonesome childhood through his 1909 Paris debut and ensuing mega-stardom to his diagnosis of schizophrenia and institutionalization. Curlee sensitively explores Nijinsky's contradictions, including as a magnetic performer with little social grace and as a sex symbol tormented by his own sexual desires. The beautifully designed volume includes Curlee's striking jewel-toned portraits and archival photographs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. After struggling for years, Swiss-born twentieth-century sculptor Alberto Giacometti found fame for his tall, spindly figures (e.g., Walking Man series), while Diego (who later become known for his furniture designs) worked tirelessly to support his brother's art. The book touches on life events in snapshot-like sections that nevertheless provide strong impressions. Hooper's art, in paint and ink and finished digitally, is strikingly dynamic. Timeline. Bib.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Amanda Hall. Artist Leonora Carrington (1917–2011) was born into a wealthy English family. She joined the surrealists in Paris, and, during WWII, fled to Mexico, where she spent the rest of her life. Markel distills Carrington's experiences into succinct prose full of vigor and imagery. Hall's dreamlike illustrations pay homage to Carrington's own art, with vivid colors, pulsating patterns, and swooping lines. Author and illustrator notes are appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Monica Edinger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) 4-6 Edgar Degas's ballet-inspired sketches, paintings, and sculptures fill Rubin's handsome book about the artist's fascination with ballet. Brief but detailed text about Degas's life and artistry accompany each artwork, giving readers a closer look into his process. The book also contains compelling glimpses into the Paris Opéra, and what the ballet students thought of the artist who was often in their studio. Extensive back matter adds value. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Rebecca Evans. Growing up in seventeenth-century Denmark, Ole Romer wondered why lightning appeared before thunder sounded. Later, as an astronomer in Paris, Romer's observations of Jupiter's moon (Io) led him to calculate the speed of light. Dense scientific information is lightened by comic-panel illustrations with speech-bubble jokes about ice cream, plumbing, and butts. Budding scientists will enjoy learning the slow process of scientific discovery. Timeline.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) YA A newly discovered ability to channel the perspective of an unknown serial killer raises a serious dilemma for sixteen-year-old morgue reporter Nathalie Baudin: reveal her supernatural powers and aid the police, or reject them for a life of normalcy? Set in nineteenth-century Paris, a time when the city's fascination with death warranted daily newspaper morgue reports, this eerie historical mystery will appeal to fans of Gothic thrillers.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Katy Wu. The famous Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Company narrates its own story and stresses the value of books in text unevenly rhymed but with offbeat appeal. The free-spirited American store proprietor, Sylvia Beach, stocks the building with "...books, from ceiling to floor!" Soon, early-twentieth-century literary luminaries (of whom brief biographies are appended) come for tea, readings, and lively conversation. Colorful digital illustrations capture the bookstore's bohemian spirit.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 "This one is special," says the note accompanying a sharp-edged tin robot from twelve-year-old Alex's grandfather. Soon Alex and his urbane, mysterious grandfather are pursued from Paris to Prague by robotic assassins after Alex's robot, which hides the secret to reanimating the legendary Golem. The entertaining plot proceeds at full tilt with multiple chases, fights, and escapes; some mysteries remain unresolved, suggesting a sequel.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Erin McGuire. In Nazi-occupied Paris, Chantal discovers a whale in the Seine and names him Franklin. When Germans arrest her father and aunt, Chantal and Franklin journey to save them. This inventive fantastical story thoughtfully explores the hardships of war, although more contextual background could have given additional depth to Chantal's defiance and empathy. Still, the message that "sometimes silliness is your best hope" shines.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) YA Anouk desires more than serving the witch who transformed her from animal to human. When the witch is murdered, Anouk and her fellow beasties have three days to find the killer and the spell to keep them human. Fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse should enjoy this complex if somewhat confusing world where goblins rule the underbelly of Paris and magic comes at a cost.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(3) 4-6 Time Castaways series. In this series opener, three siblings find themselves on a time-traveling pirate ship. The resulting voyage through history keeps pages turning with its time paradoxes and gradually revealed secrets about the pirates and their connection to the siblings’ family. Scenes ranging from an art theft to a historic World Series game make this a solid choice for adventure fans.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) YA Rosie had never been on a plane, but now she's on her way to live in Paris. Henry grew up in a restaurant, but his mother is against his becoming a chef. Now the eleventh-graders are thrown together with teens from all over the world at Chef Laurent's cooking school. Alternating points of view explore themes of self-confidence and perseverance in this light romance for foodies.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay