Description

Set in a Tahitian village very much like the ones Gauguin painted, this beautifully illustrated book draws on the figures in Gauguin s painting, Arearea, or happiness – two women, a red dog, and a large stone idol – to weave a simple but profound tale. Vahine-Noa, queen of daylight, lives for happiness and colour while her sister, Vahine Po, queen of the night, lives for her dreams, darkness, and silence. Bringing these two women together is a young boy, Tevai, and his dog, who undergo a magical experience that unites their village and helps them understand the importance of being true to your feelings. Throughout the story, Vanessa Hie s gorgeous illustrations recall Gauguin s colorful, mystical paintings of the South Seas. The book closes with a stunning reproduction of its inspiration, Gauguin s painting Arearea. Children will be drawn into Hie s intricate paintings as they follow Tevai s story, which, along with a brief introduction to Gauguin and his work, offers a superb look into the life and art of this hugely influential artist.