BRIDGET’S BERET

Bridget thinks she gets her artistic abilities from the black beret she, along with all the Great Artists, always wears. So when she loses it, her career is over. Days later, her sister asks the stymied Bridget if she’ll paint a sign for a lemonade stand. Can she do it sans beret? Each cartoonish spread—rendered in cheerful watercolors, colored pencil and ink—is riddled with wry references to the art world. Bridget’s artwork on display in the kitchen, for example, is captioned: “She created many masterpieces. Some went on permanent exhibit.” Next to her sidewalk-chalk drawing: “Others were only available for limited viewing.” In comic-strip–style panels, Bridget is shown trying on alternative hats to hilarious effect—Mom’s oversized gardening hat is met with “Draw?! I can’t even SEE!” To the coonskin cap, she simply says “Gross.” A witty, well-shaped story about the dubious necessity of lucky hats and a clever homage to many of the Great Artists and their works, from Leonardo to Warhol. (“How to Start Your Art” idea section) (Picture book. 5-8)