Description: "Oh no, I have to find Mr. Degas quickly!" Mr. Degas, who was busy painting a scene of ballerinas practicing, accidentally took the bag containing the little ballerina's new tutu instead of his own paint bag. Will the little ballerina be able to find Mr. Degas before the performance begins? Sketching a picture-perfect day as the little ballerina searches for Mr. Degas! Heading out into the rainy streets, the little ballerina asks Mr. Caillebotte, who is capturing the street scene on his canvas, if he has seen Mr. Degas. But Mr. Caillebotte, absorbed in his painting, says he hasn't, and instead suggests asking Mr. Monet, who is known for his keen powers of observation, for help. Fortunately, Mr. Monet, who is painting in his hotel room, says he saw Mr. Degas heading somewhere. Following Mr. Monet's directions, the little ballerina goes to the Galette restaurant and spots Mr. Degas, but loses him again in the crowd of dancers. Mr. Renoir, who is painting the dancers at the restaurant, tells her to try Papa Tanguy's paint shop next. Will the little ballerina be able to meet Mr. Degas and find her tutu before the show starts? A Story of Degas and the Impressionist Painters, Met in Paris From "The Ballet Class" to "Boulevard des Capucines," "Paris Street; Rainy Day," "Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette," "Young Girl in an Armchair," and "Ballerina"... All of the paintings that appear in the story of Degas and the Little Ballerina were actually painted between 1873 and 1878, in the area of northern Paris not far from the Opera House. "Impressionism" refers to a group of painters who followed the painting technique that began in Paris, France. The Impressionist painters sought to capture and express fleeting moments of everyday life through their art. They were especially fascinated by the changes in light and movement that occur throughout the day. In this book, leading Impressionist painters — Edgar Degas, Gustave Caillebotte, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Mary Cassatt — appear one by one as characters in the story, alongside their own paintings. Through Degas and the Little Ballerina, readers can step into a vivid, historically inspired scene and meet the Impressionist painters of that era in Paris. Fun Historical Facts About Impressionism You Can Learn from This Book 1. Did painters not always pay for paint with money? — Poor painters often traded their own paintings for paint instead of paying with money. 2. Did painters avoid using black paint for black hair? — There is no true black in nature. Even hair that appears black actually contains hints of red, brown, and a touch of green. 3. Was the term "Impressionism" not originally meant as a compliment? — The term actually began as a criticism. At the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874, a critic remarked that the paintings on display "looked like nothing more than an 'impression' of a finished painting."