Oh my gosh, reading this book to my kids was like reading a piece of my heart to them! Montmartre, Le Chat Noir, cats, French literature and arts, Paris, are all my home (literally and figuratively), and we have Théophile Steinlen prints all around our apartment. We also have a black and white cat called Joey Ramone who is adored by our children (and despite his reluctance to be adored by children does actually appreciate it from time to time).  So yes, The Artist Who Loved Cats is the perfect book for our family, and I’m really going to cherish it. 

Written by Susan Bernardo with gorgeous illustrations by Courtenay Fletcher, The Artist Who Loved Cats is the story of Theophile Steinlen, the artist who created the now infamous Le Chat Noir image that most people will recognize (see book cover photo above). But it isn’t just Steinlen’s tale, it is also a tale of creating, of finding oneself, of art in general, of believing in oneself, and also of taking something and transforming it into something new. It’s a beautiful, inspiring tale of the artists who made Montmartre into what we see today, telling children that they can do whatever they want to do in life, as long as they try. I love that the premise for the story is set in an antiques store! Such a perfect way to teach kids to see beauty in both old and new, forgotten and celebrated. 

The first time I set foot in Le Chat Noir was in 1999 when I travelled up to Paris from my home town of Grenoble at the age of 19, convinced I would find the spirits of all of my favorite 19th century bohemian writers and artists dancing through the shadows. My best friend Maud and I trampled our way through Pigalle and Montmartre every day for a week, and used Le Chat Noir as our base. I went back many a time over the years before leaving France for the US, and while it saddens me to think that it doesn’t exist anymore (a boutique hotel has replaced the last location of the bar on Boulevard de Clichy), my memories will always be there. There is so much magic still left in Paris, even if places are long gone.

The writing in this book is really lovely, with lilting rhymes, and French phrases here and there, and the illustrations fit perfectly with the words and the atmosphere of the book. My kids had fun counting the cats, and asking questions about the location and people. They squealed in delight when they recognized a few names at the end of the book (Lautrec and Satie for example), from the multiple times they have seen the movie Moulin Rouge. Story time is pretty sacred in our house, and I love reading a book that starts a conversation, and that also starts the thread of a dream that can one day become reality. This is a beautiful, beautiful book!!

Check out Inner Flower Child Books for more wonderful books by Susan Bernardo and Courtenay Fletcher!