The Mona Lisa Caper
Grade 1-4–This is the second title published within a year to cover a subject previously untapped in picture books: the 1911 theft of Leonardo da Vinci's iconic painting right from the wall of the Louvre. The first was J. Patrick Lewis'sThe Stolen Smile(Creative Co, 2004). This current title puts the story into the famous mouth ofLa Giocondaherself–a device that holds promise, but does not sustain interest throughout the lengthy narrative. The descriptions and emotions become somewhat repetitive, and more embellishment is required than in the earlier title. Fernandez and Jacobson incorporate thesfumatotechnique in their watercolor scenes in imitation of the master's signature style. Their soft-edge paintings and decorative cameos are atmospheric and appealing, and the original painting is reproduced in the final scene, accompanied by endnotes describing the image, artist, and thief. The look is quite different than the full bleeds and spreads employing the strong colors and tilted perspectives of a Cubist Paris inThe Stolen Smile. Unfortunately,Mona Lisaconsistently misspells the name of the thief (Vincenzo Peruggia) as Perugia, and the director of the Ufizzi (Giovanni Poggi) as Giovanne Poggie. Libraries with a comprehensive art collection may wish to own both titles; most will want to pass on this one.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.