Henri Rousseau's Jungle Book

In this delightful introduction to the art of Henri Rousseau, children explore a tropical jungle while they learn about the colours and themes that make the artist's paintings masterpieces of deceptive simplicity. As a customs official, Henri Rousseau escaped the boredom of his job by creating colourful paintings of a fantastic dream-world — a place where apes and lions cavort, snakes slither, flamingoes stroll, tigers hunt and enigmatic figures entice unsuspecting visitors amid lush, tropical plants and flowers. This book draws children into Rousseau's famous works, pointing out the many elements and symbols he incorporated, and helping them understand the use of perspective and colour that were his trademarks. Biographical information reveals the importance the natural world played in Rousseau's life and the playful text encourages further investigation into the power of imagination.