The Artist Who Loved Cats: The Inspiring Tale of Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen

By Susan Schaefer Bernardo

The Artist Who Loved Cats is a rhyming picture book biography of artist Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, the creator of the iconic Le Chat Noir Cabaret posters created in 19th-century Paris.

This story opens in modern-day France, when a little girl named Antoinette notices a little bronze cat in the window of her favorite antique store, and begs the shopkeeper Monsieur Arvieux and his clever cat Noir to tell her all about the artist. She learns that Steinlen moved to Paris in 1881 to pursue his artistic dreams, ultimately creating not just the Chat Noir posters but also more than 700 journal illustrations, famous posters, sculptures, cartoon strips and paintings, and even used his art to make the world a better place. Many of Steinlen's artworks feature cats, his favorite subject.

Delightful rhyming verse, a sweet sprinkling of French vocabulary, and lovely illustrations by the award-winning team of author Susan Schaefer Bernardo and artist Courtenay Fletcher bring art history to life. 

More than just a biography, The Artist Who Loved Cats is a celebration of art, inspiration, and following your heart to create a life that you love. It's the perfect book for expanding children's knowledge of real life artists, teaching them to appreciate art and antiques, and supporting their creative spark! It's also a great companion guide for a trip to France or study of French culture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Schaefer Bernardo
• Release date: Jun 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780971122871

Susan Schaefer Bernardo

Susan Schaefer Bernardois a firm believer in the healing powers of creativity. She and her illustrating partner Courtenay Fletcher released their first book in 2012, forming their own indie publishing company Inner Flower Child Books with a mission to produce books to heal and inspire children of all ages. Bernardo is the award-winning author of Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs, a lyrical picture book about the enduring power of love.  Her second children’s book The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm(co-authored with LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow) helps families cope with traumatic events, and was sent via rocket to the International Space Station as part of the “Storytime from Space” program and also read aloud by First Lady Michelle Obama! Her third picture book, The Big Adventures of Tiny House, is the story of a recycled tiny house on wheels who sets off across America to find the meaning of home. In 2018, she published Inspired, her first novel for tweens and teens - the story of a 14-year-old girl named Rocket who discovers she is descended from Greek Muses and must balance middle school with magical Muse training. And most recently, she and Fletcher published a picture book biography titled The Artist Who Loved Cats: The Inspiring Tale of Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, about the artist behind the iconic Le Chat Noir cabaret poster. Bernardo is also a published poet, whose poem “Tonic Waters” about her mother-in-law’s death was selected as the winning entry for The Cancer Poetry Project 2 anthology and read aloud at the 2014 World Cancer Day Concert. She makes her home in Los Angeles, with her sons, two cats, three chickens, a rambunctious terrier...and a lot of love.  When she is not writing, you might find her tidepooling, sculpting, gardening, browsing through a bookstore or museum, or traveling the world in search of her next inspiration!

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