Claire and the Cathedral

K-Gr 5–Claire is in search of color, be it in art, music, or a rain puddle. She and her mother make their way to the entrance of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. The cathedral, beautifully illustrated in soaring lines that seem to reach for the heavens, fascinates but also bores Claire. She’s far more interested in the musician out in front whose music brings color onto the scene. She finds herself mesmerized by the light that pours through the stained-glass windows and immerses her in color. She delights in the playfulness until a rainstorm steals the color away. Undaunted, she continues to search for the joy she experienced and eventually finds it in her surroundings and within herself. The illustrations, done in watercolors compiled digitally, are stunning with their ability to capture the ­awe-inspiring architecture of Notre-Dame while also centering Claire’s emotional journey. The spare use of color has a poetic ­effect and adds great drama to the narrative. ­