PABLO THE ARTIST

Members of the Hoof Lane Art Club are excited about the exhibition of their work, except for Pablo, the elephant. His canvas is blank—artist’s block. At the suggestion of his fellow animal painters, he finds a beautiful view and begins a landscape. While he’s sleeping after a lunch break, a sheep, squirrel, bird, wild boar, swarm of bees and a wolf each take up Pablo’s brushes and add what they think is missing from his painting (e.g. the squirrel adds nuts). When Pablo wakes up and looks at his canvas, he smilingly adds one finishing touch. Needless to say, his painting is the star of the show, as it captures the entire scene of the wolf painting the woodland creatures in a group shot. Kitamura’s familiar cartoon style and wry humor pair perfectly in this original take on artist’s block. Pablo is dressed in a suit, necktie, hat and spectacles and naturally paints with his trunk. The other characters appropriately use hoof, paw, beak, etc. The message is underplayed while the comic details colorfully add to the appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)