Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail

By Laurence Anholt

Book Overview

A Curious Girl. A Revolutionary Artist. A Story of Friendship and Creative Freedom.

When Sylvette meets the world-famous Pablo Picasso, she's shy, uncertain--and unaware that their friendship will change the way she sees herself forever. Through conversation, sketches, and bold brushstrokes, Picasso helps her discover the power of self-expression and the courage to be seen.

Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail is a beautifully illustrated picture book biography by Laurence Anholt, part of the beloved Anholt's Artists series. With expressive watercolor artwork and authentic reproductions of Picasso's portraits, this moving story introduces young readers to one of modern art's most iconic figures through the eyes of a real teenage muse.

Why Parents and Educators Love It:

Inspires young readers to dream big and persevereIntroduces real art history through a heartfelt narrativeIdeal for classrooms, homeschools, or bedtime reading

Ideal for ages 6-9, this book offers a gentle yet profound glimpse into Picasso's world--exploring how art can shape identity, connection, and self-confidence. It's a story of transformation, imagination, and the lasting impact of being truly seen.

From a bestselling series that brings great artists to life for children, Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail is a timeless tale of artistic courage, friendship, and finding your voice.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764138537
• ISBN13: 9780764138539
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.9" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Lovely story and intro. to the artist

My 4-year old daughter and I love all of the books in this series. The illustrations and reproductions of Picasso's work are lovely. I like to be able to introduce her to artists, and these books, unlike most others, have a story. It is about a 15 minute read aloud, not too long for one on one. Very enjoyable.

Great story and pictures

This is a wonderful book that we've read to our children for years. The fact that there is a true story behind the book makes it even more interesting for the adults who have been doing the reading. This book has particularly captivated our older boy. As we read and re-read the book to him, it was fascinating to watch as his attention shifted from simply listening to the story to observing how Picasso changed his representation of Sylvette over time -- and his questions about the art captured that change in perception. Together with the Classical Kids CDs, this series by Anholt has been one of the more valuable ways that we have introduced classical Western culture to our children.

The 2,000th way of saying I love this book!

I read Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail. I liked how the author put real pictures of Picasso's art work in the book. At the end of the book, I liked how the author put some more real information about Picasso and Sylvette and put a picture of Picasso painting Sylvette.

great read aloud for younger children

I love this series for introducing young children to art history. We read this book aloud to our young patrons and a follow-up with an art activity based on Picasso's work.

A book encouraging self asteem and art awareness

This book not only introduced the art of Pablo Picasso, but also tells a story of a young girl and her growing self esteem. As an educator, I found that this book captivated the children. The illustrations are beautiful. This book has an underlying message of courage and expression. A good book for all ages.