Picture This!

In this book, created in collaboration with the gallery itself, readers are taken on a tour of the National Gallery.

It introduces children to one of the finest collections of paintings in the world, and the stories behind them, including works by Renoir, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Degas, Seurat, Monet, Van Gogh and many others, as well as masterpieces by lesser known artists.

The book is divided into sections such as Amazing Nature, Children Like Me and Fashion Fabulous, each of which is allocated a double spread; and every section includes information about the artists whose paintings are featured, something to consider, an activity or two – yes you are encouraged to draw and write in the book. The whole thing is written in a carefully considered, engaging text, with small funky bold, bright illustrations by Paul Thurlby throughout, as well as on the front cover.

The reproductions of the paintings are on the small side, but essentially I see this as a kind of guidebook book to use prior to, or perhaps during, a visit to the gallery itself, so one hopes children will see the real works of art too. Spirally bound and costing a mere fiver, it’s is a real bargain.