Books with author Matthew James

Katie visits the gallery for the first time with Grandma and discovers that art is wonderfully exciting, especially when five famous paintings come alive for her! She spends the day enjoying The Hay Wain by John Constable, Madame Moitessier Seated by Ingres, Les Parapluies by Renoir, Tropical Storm with a Tiger by Rousseau, and Dynamic Suprematism by Kaimir Malevich.

Join Katie as she steps into some of the most famous paintings in the world for an exciting art adventure! When the Mona Lisa's smile goes missing, it's up to Katie to help find it again. On the way, they meet a princess, a dragon, a winged lion and an angel. But can Katie make the Mona Lisa smile again?'A wonderful way to engage children with art. A brilliant combination of education and storytelling' - Parents in Touch (Katie's Picture Show)This first introduction to Italian Renaissance art features five great masterpieces: Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, St George and the Dragon by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, The Lion of St Mark by Vittore Carpaccio and An Angel in Red with a Lute by Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis.Classic picture book character, Katie, has been delighting children for over 25 years. Why not collect all 13 titles in the series?Katie's Picture ShowKatie and the ImpressionistsKatie and the SunflowersKatie and the British ArtistsKatie and the Waterlily PondKatie and the Starry NightKatie and the Spanish PrincessKatie and the BathersKatie in LondonKatie's London ChristmasKatie in ScotlandKatie and the Dinosaurs

A beautiful, deluxe peek-through picture book inspired by the classic story, THE SECRET GARDEN, by Frances Hodgson Burnett.It's a hot day and sitting outside is a girl who has just finished reading her favorite book, THE SECRET GARDEN. As she is about to fall asleep, a bird flies overhead and drops a key into her lap, and her adventure begins. The girl discovers a world of magic and friendship within the walls of her own secret garden.Children will love the process of discovery in this story, as they peek through the holes on every spread and turn the pages to reveal each hidden surprise. Adults sharing the story with their children will appreciate the echoes of an adored book from their own childhood.

The stars in Vincent van Gogh's painting are so beautiful that Katie can't resist reaching in and taking one. But what will she do when all the other stars come tumbling out of the painting, too? Will Katie be able to catch the stars before the gallery guard notices they've floated away? Features five Van Gogh masterpieces: The Starry Night, Noon, Vincent's Chair, Fishing Boats on the Beach, and The Olive Grove.

"A Window in Thrums'' is a very curious realistic production, but it cannot rightly be called a novel. It is rather a series of detached pictures taken from the domestic life of a Scotch weaver's family. There is no continuous narrative. The tableaux as they succeed one anotherillustrate the family relations and habits, and individualize the different persons introduced. Odd as are the author's methods, we come to know all his people quite intimately, and take a quick interest in the sayings and doings of these undemonstrative, outwardly hard and cold Scots, whose religious ardor seems strangely contrasted with their habitual stoicism of manner. "A Window in Thrums," however, shows that behind this surface of hardness there is an emotional capacity which may go the lengih of breaking hearts, and that behind the cold crust the warmest family affections may live with a force and persistence beyond natures far more quick to manifest their ephemeral feelings. The dialect in which the story is told is indeed so broad that many readers may find it an embarrassment. Words and expressions are used which seem strange even to those familiar with conventional Scotticisms. But this adds a quaint flavor to the book, and certainly does not interfere seriously with its effectiveness, which is remarkably great.

Little ballerinas will love these imaginative retellings of The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. With illustrations that capture the magic of the stories, award-winning author James Mayhew weaves the classic tales through the eyes of a young ballerina. Little Ella Bella loves attending Madame Rosa's ballet class at the old theater. Most of all she loves the music that plays from Madame Rosa's special music box. Whenever it plays, something magical is certain to happen!In Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker, Ella is magically transported into the enchanting, festive world of The Nutcracker ballet. There, she meets the beautiful Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll. Together, Ella and Clara must fight off the evil Mouse King so they can break the evil spell that has transformed a handsome prince into the Nutcracker doll.The music box transports little Ella Bella to another fairy tale realm in Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty. Entering the palace of Princess Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty, Ella meets all the story's characters--not only the good ones, but also the sinister bad fairy--and she sees the famous story unfold before her very eyes.At the end of each of these beautifully illustrated stories, young readers will learn about the origins of the featured ballet and the history of the composers who created the timeless music that we all know and love. The perfect holiday surprise for little lovers of dance.

Ezra Jack Keats Award Honour WinnerElizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award FinalistA New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s BookNew York Public Library Best Books for KidsNorma and her parents are going to her great-uncle Frank’s funeral, and Norma is more excited than sad. She is looking forward to playing with her favorite cousin, Ray, but when she arrives at the church, she is confronted with rituals and ideas that have never occurred to her before. While not all questions can be answered, when the day is over Norma is certain of one thing — Uncle Frank would have enjoyed his funeral.This sensitive and life-affirming story will lead young readers to ask their own questions about life, death and how we remember those who have gone before us.

The Extraordinary Lives Foundation has created a therapeutic tool that will encourage young students to perform mindful breathing in a fun and loving way. The Power of Piggie Bear will teach students not to judge one another and she lets them know that they are perfect just the way they are! Piggie Bear will teach children her favorite Piggie Bear Hug and as well as her special Piggie Bear saying “I am Amazing!”

Katie just can't decide what she wants to be when she grows up. Perhaps a trip to the gallery to see five famous paintings by world-renowned British artists might give her some ideas. And can she help the shepherd boy from Constable's The Cornfield round up all those pesky sheep? For almost two decades, the Katie series has been bringing art to life for young children.