The Three Musicians: A Children's Book Inspired by Pablo Picasso

K-Gr 2—Inspired by Picasso's The Three Musicians, this allegorical tale uses bold visuals to illustrate a story that feels both old and familiar. In the kingdom of Mirador, King Minus speaks constantly of a terrifying beast called Fire-Mouth, a creature so monstrous that it can swallow an entire calf whole. Though the people of Mirador have never seen the beast, their lives are ruled by fear, particularly when the king tells them, "one day it will come and devour your children right out of your arms." So they are understandably suspicious when three saltimbancos appear in the town—Pierrot, Capucin, and Harlequin—along with their dog, Cocoa-pod. The street performers encourage everyone to dance and have fun, but the people can only talk about Fire-Mouth until Harlequin suggests that perhaps the beast can be tamed with a song. Through the joyful power of music, the townsfolk gradually let go of their fears and begin to experience love and happiness again, even as King Minus resorts to trickery to regain control over his kingdom. Reflecting Picasso's own keen interest in cubism and theater, the evocative, large-scale watercolor and pencil illustrations are boldly graphic and richly hued, with figures set into scenes like actors on a stage. The text reads smoothly and is peppered with flamboyant words drawn from the world of music and dance such as "fandango" and "tremelo." The book includes a large reproduction of The Three Musicians and an accessible multipart discussion of Picasso's life and work. Recommended for teachers and others interested in developing art appreciation through storytelling.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library