Books published by publisher J. Paul Getty Museum

A different kind of adventure story, The Goldfish in the Chandelier takes place just outside of Paris in the early 1800s. Uncle Henri is stuck. He has been commissioned to design a chandelier for a great house in Paris, but he can’t figure out what form it will take. His young nephew, Louis Alexandre, comes to the rescue with some dazzling ideas—inspired by Alexander the Great and the first hot-air balloon flights over Paris—that surprise them both. Together, they use a lot of imagination to create something that never existed before—something new, unexpected, and very beautiful.This delightful story was inspired by the Gérard-Jean Galle chandelier, one of the most popular pieces in the J. Paul Getty Museum’s impressive collection of French decorative arts. For children ages 7 to 10.

In 2005, the Getty published Greece! Rome! Monsters!, a handy guide to the best-known monsters from Greek and Roman mythology. Now comes My Monster Notebook, which presents yet more of these creepy creatures and characters from ancient times. Purporting to be a school notebook found on the sidewalk, the pages reveal the stories of such thrilling and little-known creatures as the huge Teumessian Fox (who was turned to stone by Zeus), Echidna (mother of many, many monsters), hundred-headed Briaereus (who was also a handful), and Typhon (who threw mountains around as if they were beanbags). My Monster Notebook offers a peek at a bunch of creatures you definitely would not want to run into, brought to vivid life by someone who accidentally dropped his (or her) lovingly put together notebook. Fortunately, we found it! It includes a pronunciation guide. How do you say “Nereid”? Ages eight and up.

In this appealing and attractive volume, Jan Brueghel's elaborate 1613 painting The Entry of the Animals into Noah's Ark is cleverly transformed into a look-and-find book for children. Twenty-five detailed illustrations prompt eaders to identify different kinds of animals while accompanying text shows the word for each animal in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Japanese. Each word is also spelled out phonetically, so parents can help young readers learn to pronounce the foreign names correctly. A color foldout of the painting in its entirety makes it fun for young readers to locate each animal from Noah's Ark.

This colorful book is filled with delightful images from the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection. But not just any images: this volume contains images of dogs, accompanied by a bit of read-aloud rhyme. Designed and written for the youngest of art appreciators, these charming books introduce children to the many different ways artists see the world--and offer a glimpse into the treasures of the Getty Museum.

This delightful book by award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Bruno Gibert is inspired by the true story of the first flight of living creatures in a handmade aircraft. On September 19, 1783, the Montgolfier brothers demonstrated their new invention, the hot-air balloon or montgolfière, at the Palace of Versailles before a large crowd, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Considered too dangerous for human passengers, the experimental vessel carried a sheep, a duck, and a hen in its basket. The balloon flew for about eight minutes, covered a distance of roughly two miles, and reached an altitude of more than 1,500 feet before landing safely. The animals’ balloon ride caused a sensation and the first human flight followed a few months later. By the end of 1783, Louis XVI had ennobled the Montgolfier family in recognition of the brothers’ important achievements, which perhaps prompted a royal celebration for the animals like the one depicted in the book. In Gibert’s fantasy, the animals anger the king at the fete by describing him as “no bigger than the tiniest snail” when viewed from high above the ground, and Louis imprisons them in the Bastille. While the direct role of talking animals in the storming of the Bastille in 1789 can’t quite be supported by historical evidence, this book does vividly evoke the stirring developments in aeronautics that took place right around the time of the French Revolution. Ages five to seven.

Meet the people of ancient Greece, learn how they lived and worked, and see the sorts of objects they made and used. In profiling a wide range of people from this ancient society--from religious and government leaders to farmers, soldiers, and artisans to women and children--the author brings to life a distant and fascinating world. The lively text and wealth of illustrations of ancient Greek artworks and artifacts, including vases, statuary, religious objects, jewelry, and weapons, make this the perfect introduction to an ancient society that left such an extraordinary legacy to Western civilization. Ages twelve and up.

The Roman Empire was the largest in the ancient world, and it left its cultural mark on Europe and the world in its art and architecture, its roads, and its legal system. This third volume in the illustrated Pocket Dictionary series introduces twenty-seven of the most important emperors who ruled this extraordinary civilization. Read about the mighty Augustus, who defeated Antony and Cleopatra and created a new Rome out of chaos; Trajan, who increased the empire to its greatest extent; and Septimus Severus, the only emperor of African heritage, who rebuilt Rome and the empire after ruinous wars. Here also are those rulers whose names became synonymous with the excesses and cruelty associated with absolute power: Nero, who murdered his relatives and swept away much of Rome for his own palace, and Caligula, an avid fan of public executions and gladiatorial contests, who spent a fortune on such luxuries as a marble stable and gold food for his favorite horse. Illustrated with coins, jewelry, busts, and ancient monuments, this handy reference guide offers an introduction to a fascinating cast of characters whose deeds have echoed down through history. Ages twelve and up.

This colorful book is filled with delightful images from the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection. But not just any images: this volume contains images of kids, accompanied by a bit of read-aloud rhyme. Designed and written for the youngest of art appreciators, these charming books introduce children to the many different ways artists see the world--and offer a glimpse into the treasures of the Getty Museum.