Jenny Gahan is an experienced teacher, passionate about writing for children. She writes picture books, both fiction and non-fiction. Her first picture book, A Rainbow of Feathers, was published in 2020.  Jenny also enjoys include photography and painting, and likes to visit places that inspire her creativity.

An emerging children’s book illustrator, Patricia Ward is an art director and illustrator whose work spans television, magazines and publishing. Her illustrations have appeared on cd artworks, magazine and book covers, in television series and her animations have won awards both at home in Australia and Internationally.

Monet Chases the Light is a creative non-fiction picture book for children aged 4-6 years.  Claude Monet, a French artist, produced paintings that glowed with light and colour.  Monet was fascinated by light and painted at all times of the day, in all seasons, and in all kinds of weather in his endeavour to capture the light in his work.

This book introduces children to Monet’s fascination with light in a playful manner.   He chases the light as it frolics through the corn fields, dances in the treetops, and skips across the shimmering water.

Monet paints quickly, as the light never stays still for long.  When the light is soft and silky, he uses gentle flowing strokes.  When the light is harsh and bright, he uses rough, choppy strokes.

Monet sometimes paints the same thing over and over, from dawn until dusk, watching the colours and light change as the sun drifts across the sky.

At his home in Giverny Monet creates a splendid waterlily pond.  He paints magical pictures of his pond as the light prances through the waterlilies.

Then, as an old man, Monet grows tired of chasing the light.  He sits quietly beside his pond.

Monet has spent his life chasing the light, but now at last the light finds him.

Bookworm for Kids
“Light and art play on every page as Monet’s works are portrayed in each scene….Especially the younger end of the intended age group will enjoy this one, and it works well as a read-a-loud. The light, rhythmic tone leads the reader through the different settings, which even include Monet himself painting while sitting on a boat. The entire thing rounds off to a comforting and peaceful end to form a calming read. This would work nicely as an introduction to an art theme or when learning more about Monet.”