School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-Bridget loves to draw, but she needs her black artist's beret as her muse. One day as she is outdoors working, it flies off into the wind, and she believes that her inspiration has flown with it. Other hats don't help and she stops drawing. But when her little sister begs her to make a sign for a lemonade stand, Bridget agrees. Once she starts painting, she finds that the art was inside her all along; in fact, her new paintings are more sophisticated and draw on the works of recognizable artists. Lichtenheld's ink, colored pencil, and watercolor cartoon illustrations, heavy on line and filled with childlike drawings, add humor and character to the story. Combined with Peter Reynolds's The Dot (2003) and Ish (2004, both Candlewick), the ideas for inspiration that are included in the back matter would work well for a lesson on artistic expression.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
After her beret blows away, Bridget develops "artist's block." It's alleviated when her sister convinces her to paint some lemonade-stand signs, which cumulatively become an outdoor art show. This absorbing story features lots of texture, including dialogue bubbles, tips for artists, and, within the cartoon-y illustrations, parodies: Bridget's sign for "Swirly Lemonade" is a riff on van Gogh's Starry Night. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Bridget thinks she gets her artistic abilities from the black beret she, along with all the Great Artists, always wears. So when she loses it, her career is over. Days later, her sister asks the stymied Bridget if she'll paint a sign for a lemonade stand. Can she do it sans beret? Each cartoonish spreadrendered in cheerful watercolors, colored pencil and inkis riddled with wry references to the art world. Bridget's artwork on display in the kitchen, for example, is captioned: "She created many masterpieces. Some went on permanent exhibit." Next to her sidewalk-chalk drawing: "Others were only available for limited viewing." In comic-stripstyle panels, Bridget is shown trying on alternative hats to hilarious effectMom's oversized gardening hat is met with "Draw?! I can't even SEE!" To the coonskin cap, she simply says "Gross." A witty, well-shaped story about the dubious necessity of lucky hats and a clever homage to many of the Great Artists and their works, from Leonardo to Warhol. ("How to Start Your Art" idea section) (Picture book. 5-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Lichtenheld's last successful effort, Duck! Rabbit! (2009), authored by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, was delightful, but more concept than story. Here, he offers a real tale to go along with a clever idea. Bridget loves drawing, but she feels what's most important to her artistic sense is her black beret. So when the wind blows it away, Bridget is stricken. She puts up posters and files a Missing Beret report, but to no avail. Having lost her hat, Bridget also loses her ability to draw. One hysterical spread shows her trying on other hats to see if they inspire. A cowboy hat ( Draw, partner! ). A propeller beanie ( How uplifting ). Nope, she has artist's block (a fine sidebar explains just what that is). When her sister asks Bridget to make signs for her lemonade stand, Bridget agrees to put words on paper, but no pictures. Yet that o in lemonade tempts her to color it yellow and add a leaf. Pretty soon she is drawing signs that pay homage to great artists she has got her artistic mojo back. And her beret turns up, too. This smart, saucy book, with its spacious cartoon-style art, is both a spur to artistic endeavor and a message about inspiration and hard work. Yet the motivations are cocooned by a crackin' good tale and tempered by a full-faceted heroine. Tips for readers about creating their own art neatly complete an already strong package that can easily be worked into the curriculum.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
