Marguerite Makes a Book (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum)

My five your old granddaughter and I were delighted with this book. I would give it 10 stars if I could! The book shows the beauty of 1400's illuminated manuscripts with a relatable personally story of a young girl helping her father by painting a page when he was not able to. Each page is rich with cultural images and makes you feel that you are part of the story. Showing you how she makes a quill and makes paint with egg whites etc. A perfect book for a classroom teacher.

This really is superb

Beautiful and well written book.

This is a very nice book. The illustrations are so well done. The story is interesting and a great addition to our study of the Middle Ages.

Beautiful book! Illustrations are lovely and my 6 year old loved listening to it and didn’t want to stop. There are several short chapters but it’s easy to read through too.

Enjoyable for older toddlers and upwards

This is a beautiful, well-written “living” book has the kids learning history through a tangible story. The artwork inspired my 7 year old to create her own illuminated book page with similar art work around the edges!

I wish the book had been in better condition but aside from that it is a glorious story and the illustrations are spectacular.

It's so easy for us to write books and draw colourful pictures. But in Marguerite's day it was a very complex project. The story gives a little glimpse into the making of books before printing presses. Also, there is a very sweet aspect to the story of how Marguerite says her Father's reputation and shows her own talents as a book maker. The pictures are absolutely stunning! A new favourite in our house!

Long ago, before books were printed, there lived a girl called Marguerite in Paris ... and this is her story."Marguerite Makes a Book" is one of those picture books that tells such a lovely story - with words AND pictures - that readers of any age can enjoy the time they spend between the covers.Marguerite is the daughter of Jacques the Painter - "the oldest and most famous book painter in Paris". Papa Jacques has a very important book to paint. The scribe has written a collection of prayers. They are to be bound into a book for Lady Isabelle. But, first, Papa Jacques has been commissioned to paint pictures around the prayers in the borders of the pages. What will Marguerite do when Papa has an accident that stops him painting? Lady Isabelle is waiting for her book of prayers. Someone has to paint the book!The story is just right - simple, but full of detail. And the pictures complete the story perfectly! Like the story, they're simple, but full of detail - and the "illuminated" borders around the text make the reality of Marguerite's book come to life. Through the pages of "Marguerite Makes a Book", the reader is transported to Paris and goes shopping with Marguerite to buy the things a painter needs - from the market and a tiny shop hidden between the arches of the cathedral - and comes home to watch a book being painted.At the end of "Marguerite Makes a Book" there's that delicious feeling of contentment that is only found at the end of a good story - and, at the same time, there's a sense of "rightness" in understanding a little bit of the dedicated, patient craftsmanship that made each and every book a reality, a treasure, in the days before printing.

A great book to inspire beautiful writing.