Books published by publisher J. Paul Getty Museum

A life-size portrait of the famous rhinoceros named Clara is the massive centerpiece of the Getty Museum’s exhibition Oudry’s Painted Menagerie. In her honor, the Getty has produced My Travels with Clara, a picture book for children that tells the true story of this five-thousand-pound animal and her owner, an eighteenth-century Dutch sea captain. My Travels with Clara begins in India, where Clara was born, and follows this amazing animal and her owner through their exploits in Berlin (where she met Frederick the Great), Paris (where she was a sensation and inspired rhinoceros hairdos), Versailles (where she met Louis XV and had her portrait painted), Rome (where she lost her horn), and finally Venice (where Clara joined in the annual Carnival). A delightful story for children ages eight and up.

After defeating the Trojans in an intense, ten-year war, the Greeks' courageous leader, Ulysses, king of Ithaca, begins the voyage home with his soldiers. There his faithful wife, Penelope, and his young son, Telemachus, await him. Ulysses never imagines that the journey home will be another ten-year quest in which he must confront all kinds of terrifying obstacles, including giant cannibals, one-eyed monsters, an enchantress who turns his men into pigs, and the tempting song of sea nymphs who try to lure him and his men to their death. But Ulysses is a daring and clever man, willing to take on all that life and the gods put in his path in order to reach his home. This retelling of the Greek poet Homer's epic tale is accompanied by beautiful and bold illustrations reminiscent of ancient Greek art. The graphic-novel-like style of the book, in which text and illustrations are tightly interwoven, creates a compelling world filled with drama and mystery certain to draw in young readers. Ages nine to twelve.

This delightful picture book from beloved children's book author Leo Politi, originally published in 1971, tells the story of Emmet, one of the many stray dogs taken in by old Mr. Winkel--among them, Poupee, Oscar, and Puff. Emmet was always the troublemaker of the lot, escaping from Mr. Winkel's yard to chase the neighborhood cats and snatch toys from small children. He even refused to obey the grocer's sign that clearly said, "No dogs allowed"! Tired of putting up with Emmet's energetic pranks, Mr. Winkel's neighbors are ready to call the dogcatcher when the rascally dog saves the grocer's shop from a fire set by a prowler. As in all Leo Politi's books, Emmet's adventures are richly illustrated and humorously told--and as Emmet frolics across the pages, every reader, young or old, can recall their own pesky neighborhood dogs--and even the ones in their own backyard.

This Is the Day: The March on Washington is a stirring photo-essay by photographer Leonard Freed documenting the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom of August 28, 1963, the historic day on which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. This book commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the historic march that ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Never before published in book form, the seventy-five photographs in this volume were chosen from among the hundreds of images that Freed made in the nation’s capitol—before, during, and after the march. These images not only present us with stunning wide-angle views of hundreds of thousands of marchers overflowing the National Mall but also focus on small groups of people straining to see the speakers and on individual faces, each one filled with hope and yearning, epitomized by the beautiful young woman who throws her entire being into singing "We Shall Overcome.” In addition are eighteen pictures from the twentieth-anniversary march of August 1983, conveying a sense of celebration coupled with peaceful protest.Accompanying the photographs are a first-hand, backstage account of the preparations leading up to the march by social activist and civil rights leader Julian Bond; an essay on the importance of the march and Dr. King's involvement by sociology professor and author Michael Eric Dyson; and an informative discussion of Freed’s approach to the photographic project by scholar Paul Farber.

This delightful volume uses twenty-six great photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection to show children the alphabet in action, and teach them some interesting ways to look at, and wonder about, works of art. Included are photographs by such masters as Walker Evans, Julia Margaret Cameron, André Kertész, Weegee, Dorothea Lange, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. P Is for Peanut can be enjoyed by children and by their parents, too: readers of all ages will appreciate its beautiful and witty design and its playful juxtapositions of words and images.

Originally published in 1948 and the recipient of a Caldecott Honor, Juanita captures the atmosphere of Olvera Street, the historic Latino community in downtown Los Angeles. Juanita's parents own a small shop, or puesto, which they have named after her, and one very much like those that line Olvera Street to this day. They sell brightly colored baskets, dresses, and fine lacework-all handmade. For her fourth birthday, Juanita is dressed in a beautiful rose-colored gown and is given a white dove. On the day before Easter, Juanita takes her dove to the Old Mission Church for the annual Blessing of the Animals, along with Señora Carmela, who brings her burro, and Carlos, the leader of the procession, who brings his cow decked out in gardenias! Through his charming illustrations and text, Leo Politi captures the age-old traditions of birthdays and Easter in Los Angeles' Latino community. Music and lyrics for a Mexican birthday song and a lullaby are also included, making this a delightful introduction for young children to one of the many cultures that makes up Los Angeles and the nation.

When Achilles was born, the Fates—the three female deities who shaped people’s lives—announced that his destiny would be tied to that of Troy. Son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, the fiercest warriors in all of Greece, Achilles was raised by the centaur Chiron, who taught the boy fighting skills and imbued him with a strong sense of honor. When asked to help avenge the Greeks against the Trojans, who had kidnapped the Greek princess Helen, Achilles answers the call, even though his mother warns him that battling the Trojans will bring him eternal glory but will cost him his life. Fighting alongside the troops of King Agamemnon, Achilles’s sense of honor and capacity for empathy are both tested. Achilles goes on to meet his fate against the Trojans but, in the end, who really decided his fate? Was it the gods, or was it Achilles himself? This epic tale is enlivened by bold and beautiful illustrations reminiscent of ancient Greek art. Ages nine to twelve.

In this delightful alphabet book, cleverly illustrated with paintings from the collection of the Getty Museum, A is for an artist by Jan Steen, B is for a bumblebee by Ambrosius Bosschaert, and C is for a candle by Jean-Francois de Troy. Details from twenty-six different paintings by artists including Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and Edgar Degas provide the objects corresponding with each letter of the alphabet. The book also contains reproductions of all the paintings from which the details were selected. This charming book provides a unique opportunity to help children learn the ABC's while teaching them to look closely at great works of art. The other artists are: Pompeo Batoni (Italian, 1708-1787) Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682-1749) Luca Carlevarijs (Italian, 1663-1730) Hendrick ter Brugghen (Dutch, 1588-1629) Francesco Salviati (Francesco de'Rossi) (Italian, 1510-1563) Bartolommeo Vivarini (Italian, about 1432-1499) Dosso Dossi (Giovanni de'Luteri) (Italian, active 1512--died 1542) Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919) Jean-Simeon Chardin (French, 1699-1779) Jan Brueghel the Elder (Flemish, 1568-1625) Sebastiano Ricci (Italian, 1659-1734) Carlo Dolci (Italian, 1616-1686) Jean-Etienne Liotard (Swiss, 1702-1789) James Ensor (Belgian, 1860-1949) Lawrence Alma Tadema (Dutch/English, 1836-1912) Georges de La Tour (French, 1593-1652) Pieter de Hooch (Dutch, 1629-1684) Pier Francesco Mola (Italian, 1612-1666) Joseph Ducreux (French, 1735-1802) Joachim Wtewael (Dutch, 1566-1638)

The tragic tale of Orpheus, his gift for music, and his undying love for the oak nymph Eurydice is retold for children is this engaging picture book. This version of the classic story about the origins of singing according to Greek mythology features beautiful yet haunting color illustrations of Eurydice's journey from the forest to the Underworld and back again.

The audacious characters of Greek mythology have remained popular throughout the ages. This colorful and handy visual reference introduces to a new generation these ancient heroes and heroines, who used their cunning, beauty, and courage to overcome an array of obstacles and monsters. Young readers will be amazed by the stories of Herakles and his twelve mighty labors; Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece; Perseus, who vanquished the Gorgon Medusa and saved Andromeda from the sea monster; Bellerophon, the rider of the winged horse Pegasus; Penelope's undying loyalty; and many others. Also here are the treacherous monsters (and perils) that these heroes and heroines faced: one-eyed giants, called Cyclopes; the alluring Sirens; the terrible half-man, half-bull called the Minotaur; and the evil witch Circe. Each entry is illustrated with a color photograph of an ancient work of art showing the characters in action. An index helps the reader easily find his favorite character. Ages twelve and up.

Herakles was one of the greatest of all Greek heroes, and his exploits have been celebrated in paintings, songs, poetry, and sculpture for thousands of years. Now it's time for him to have his own children's book, one devoted exclusively to his labors and adventures. Written by John Harris and illustrated by artist Gary Baseman, Strong Stuff tells the amazing stories of the Stymphalian Birds (defeated by crashing cymbals), creepy King Geryon (with three heads AND three bodies), the Augean Stables (don't ask), and nine other labors that Herakles performed. This is a one-of-a-kind account of the great mythological hero in action. Stong stuff! With a super-helpful map and a pronunciation guide for those sometimes-hard-to-pronounce classical names.