Claude - by Phyllis Harris (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS PICK

Take young artists on a journey of creative self-expression with this wordless picture book about art, Claude Monet, and Claude the dog.

"Energy and emotion leap off the page. . . . It's an outstanding example of the power of a wordless picture book." --School Library Journal (starred review)

Inspired by a beautiful Claude Monet painting, a little artist decides to create her own masterpiece, but her puppy has other ideas. From grabbing his favorite ball to rolling on the floor, he tries everything to get her attention, and chaos ensues, creating a big, colorful mess.

Or is it a mess after all? Perhaps Claude the dog and Claude Monet have a lot more in common than we think.

Told entirely in stunning illustration, Claude is a wordless picture book that introduces young artists to the works of Monet while inspiring creativity and promoting passion over perfection. And at the end, kids can read about the life of Monet and his role in art history.

With bold splashes of color across white pages, this inspirational story shows the creative process in full transparency, proving that there are no bad creations, just happy mistakes that are worth more than a thousand words.

Don't wait to be perfect to start.

Review Quotes

"A cleverly conceived, wordless picture book that encourages young readers to let go of preconceived notions and approach art--and life--with spontaneous joy. . . . This energetic, inventive book about creativity serves equally well as both an elementary tribute to Impressionist master Claude Monet and a demonstration of the power of play."

--Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author "Shelf Awareness (starred review)" (6/1/2026 12:00:00 AM)

"Colorful and fast-moving, capped by worthy reflections."

-- "Kirkus Reviews" (2/2/2026 12:00:00 AM)

"Energy and emotion leap off the page. . . . It's an outstanding example of the power of a wordless picture book."

-- "School Library Journal (starred review)" (1/27/2026 12:00:00 AM)

"Kids will love the messy, chaotic fun. With a great message about accepting the unexpected as part of being creative, this makes a wonderful introduction to one of Monet's exquisite poppy field paintings."

-- "Booklist (starred review)" (6/1/2026 12:00:00 AM)

"Claude is an adorable and beautifully illustrated book that kids of all ages will enjoy. Another Phyllis Harris masterpiece."--Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, New York Times bestselling author (4/28/2025 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Phyllis Harris has a passion for creating books that inspire hope, love, and the innocence of childhood. She feels most creative in nature and prefers the songs of birds to the noise of traffic.