“Quickly I ruffle my paintbrush against the canvas as jade waters ruffle against the shore’s edge …” A lyrical narrative describes a single, memorable day in the life of artist Claude Monet. After a gaggle of children help him get his supplies and canvases to the beach, the artist works to capture the waves and stone arch at Manneporte along the Normandy coast. So intensely is he focused on trying to catch the light and movement that he doesn’t notice the tide coming in until it sweeps him into a tumble of waves. Julie Danneberg’s exquisite writing in Monet’s imagined voice captures the artist’s exacting passion. Small inserts of boxed text provide occasional facts about how the artist worked in a fascinating account—based on an actual incident—set against Caitlin Heimerl’s light-filled watercolor illustrations. More information on Monet, Impressionism, and technical aspects of his painting is provided at story’s end. Highly Commended, 2013 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 5–8)