Izzy Paints

by Tim Miller, Tim Miller (Illustrator)

Overview

“Izzy’s happiness at creating something of their own and the simple but lively text make for a delightful and engaging read-aloud. A charming stroll through the imagination and a testament to the joys of creativity.” —Kirkus

Inspired by a museum visit, a young koala decides to make art of their very own in this playful picture book from acclaimed author-artist Tim Miller. Perfect for fans of The Dot, What Do You Do with an Idea?, and The Book of Mistakes.

Izzy loves the big city—especially the art museum.

Izzy is so inspired by the art all around—now it's time to make their own!

This joyful celebration of creativity will spark the imagination of every young reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063119758
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/08/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	417,668
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tim Miller is an author and illustrator of children’s books who lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats. His picture books include Izzy Paints; Tiny Kitty, Big City; Moo Moo in a Tutu; and What’s Cooking, Moo Moo? He has also illustrated the picture books Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) and Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever! (Probably) by Julie Falatko, Margarash by Mark Riddle, and the middle grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell. You can visit Tim online at timmillerillustration.com.

Tim Miller is an author and illustrator of children’s books who lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats. His picture books include Izzy Paints; Tiny Kitty, Big City; Moo Moo in a Tutu; and What’s Cooking, Moo Moo? He has also illustrated the picture books Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) and Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever! (Probably) by Julie Falatko, Margarash by Mark Riddle, and the middle grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell. You can visit Tim online at timmillerillustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

09/26/2022

After making an inaugural trip to an art museum with their yellow cat sidekick in tow, big-city denizen Izzy, a gray koala, is so inspired by the dazzling expressions on display—Miller (Tiny Kitty, Big City) tips a hat to Frida Kahlo, Henry Moore, and Wayne Thiebaud, among others—that they decide to become an artist, too. Fortunately, Izzy has both a closet crammed with art supplies and a snappy-looking artist’s smock. Unfortunately, the creature is immediately overwhelmed by the blank canvas (“Izzy is stuck. Will Izzy give up?”). But the sun shining through the window—the very same “electric yellow” that’s Izzy’s favorite color—sparks the budding artist’s creativity, and what begins as a single yellow scribble is soon amplified by “jade drips, indigo dots, magenta splashes, and teal swirls” that splatter across the spread (“Izzy feels free. Izzy’s heart sings”) before being proudly shared as a finished work. Rhythmic, declarative sentences and stripped-down characterizations and settings let the creative process and its rewards shine—and, via the artist’s spattering, splattering hues, bring new meaning to the term “flying colors.” Ages 4–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"The charmingly breezy art depicts Izzy and other figures in thick marker-like lines, giving them a contrasting simplicity to both the complexity of the detailed city in its saturated ’70s colors and the paint-like strokes and splatters of Izzy’s artwork. Izzy’s final piece... underscores the fun of the creative process... and the wry humor playing between text and art is a bonus."  — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

"Rhythmic, declarative sentences and stripped-down characterizations and settings let the creative process and its rewards shine—and, via the artist’s spattering, splattering hues, bring new meaning to the term 'flying colors.'”  — Publishers Weekly

"Izzy’s happiness at creating something of his own and the simple but lively text make for a delightful and engaging read-aloud. A charming stroll through the imagination and a testament to the joys of creativity." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-07-13
Izzy the koala loves life in the big city, where there is so much to see and do.

The city is bustling; on the corner of Bruegel Avenue and Dürer Street, there’s an art supply store, a florist, and a tattoo parlor, fittingly named Bauhaus Tattoos—just one of several hat tips to artists and artistic movements. When Izzy and their constant companion, a little yellow cat, discover the art museum, another world opens up for them. All the other animals in Izzy’s world, other than Izzy (gray) and their cat, are illustrated in blue, while the art within the museum is in full color. Even so, there’s plenty of fun to be had in looking at spreads featuring the background characters: a giraffe holding an art book upside down, a fish with legs, a dog with a T-shirt that reads “Who let this dog out?” Izzy is fully immersed and inspired by the art; a wall of art reminiscent of Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings of desserts even makes them hungry. Children will identify with Izzy, who after their visit wants to create their own work but then feels overwhelmed by the blank canvas. They break through, covering the canvas with splashes and drips, eventually creating a vibrant self-portrait. Izzy’s happiness at creating something of their own and the simple but lively text make for a delightful and engaging read-aloud. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A charming stroll through the imagination and a testament to the joys of creativity. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews