The Great Big Book of Museums - by Éva Bensard (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A fascinating tour of some of the most amazing museums around the world

From Bilbao to Beijing, from New York to the Netherlands, explore the wonders of 13 extraordinary museums in this "great big" oversized book for readers 8 to 108. Whether you're visiting Mexico City's Frida Kahlo Museum, Paris's treasured Louvre, or New York City's American Museum of Natural History, you'll be accompanied by the very best guides: curators, architects, landscape designers, artists . . . but also some more unexpected guests, like the beloved cats of St. Petersburg's Hermitage, or the guardian of Rome's Vatican Museums who carries hundreds of keys while making his rounds through the Sistine Chapel and beyond!
Each of the 13 museums is splashed across two colorful double-page spreads: the first is a vivacious illustration of the museum's architecture by the French artist Benjamin Chaud, bursting with quirky details and inside jokes. A second spread gives life to each museum with abundant, charming illustrations and fascinating, fact-filled captions of history, mystery, and more. This beautiful book by French author Éva Bensard bubbles over with world-renowned masterpieces; a glimpse into the lives and works of dozens of artists, scientists, and other luminaries; intriguing portraits of expert employees; and insider tips for visitors . . . museums have never seemed so vibrant and exciting.

The featured museums include:
- The Vatican Museums (Rome, Italy)
- The Smithsonian Institution (Washington, D.C., United States)
- The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Bilbao, Spain)
- The Mucem (Marseille, France)
- The Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- The Louvre (Paris, France)
- The Oceanographic Museum (Monaco)
- The State Hermitage (St. Petersburg, Russia)
- The Palace Museum (Beijing, China)
- The National Museum of Fine Arts (Algiers, Algeria)
- The Frida Kahlo Museum (Mexico City, Mexico)
- The American Museum of Natural History (New York, United States)
- The Quai Branly Museum (Paris, France)

About the Author

Éva Bensard is a graduate of the Louvre school in Paris and holds a master's degree in history. She is a freelance journalist for art magazines and also writes nonfiction books for young readers specializing in art and architecture. She is the author of Amazing Artworks: The World's Biggest, Oldest, and Most Jaw-Dropping Creations. Her mission is to make art accessible to everyone; in her books, poetry, and travels, art and history happily coexist. Bensard lives and works in Paris, France. Benjamin Chaud is one of the most renowned French illustrators. He has illustrated more than 70 picture books, including 101 Ways to Read a Book written by Timothée de Fombelle and published by Red Comet Press. He is the author and illustrator of The New York Times Notable Book The Bear's Song and three sequels. He is also the illustrator of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Museum written by his frequent collaborator, Davide Calì. Chaud lives in the south of France. Karin Snelson is a Seattle-based book editor and translator, specializing in children's literature.