Not a creature was stirring, except a French artist mouse!
Follow Henri, the French artist mouse living in a French country house, as he tries to paint the perfect Christmas gift for a very special friend. When Henri begins to doubt his own ability, a certain Christmas visitor, jolly and round with black boots and a red suit, steps in to reassure Henri about what’s truly important. With a bit of guidance—and just in time for Christmas morning—Henri discovers the greatest gift he could give: friendship! A story of lost confidence and renewed determination, this picture book introduces young artists to real art terms, materials, and techniques, as well as to art’s modern masters, cast in the roles of Henri’s colleagues and friends.
Joan C. Waites has illustrated more than forty-five books for both classroom and general audiences, including Moon's Cloud Blanket, The Waving Girl, F Is for Firefighting, P Is for Police, Daniel Boone: Trailblazer, and Monsieur Durand's Grosse Affaire from Pelican. She studied illustration at George Washington University's Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. While working as a freelance artist, Waites returned to the Corcoran School to teach as an adjunct faculty member for their children's "Aspiring Artists" programs. Waites runs her own art studio, Purple Crayon Studio, where she teaches a variety of art classes to young children, and she participates as an artist in residence at local elementary schools. She volunteers as the illustrator coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic region of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, is a member of the Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC, and is a frequent contributor to the blog Pencil Tips Writing Workshop, where she offers art advice and tips to artists and teachers. Waites lives in the DC metro area with her husband and has three grown daughters.