“Sometimes a bear barely sits in a chair. But but but but wait a minute. There’s no bear there, heavens no. There’s just Gertrude staring and her chair. And her chair is not even barely a chair, no no no no no it’s a throne.” A book as singular its subject (Gertrude Stein) features a text perfectly tuned to young children, full of energy, rhythm, and playful prose to delight. But this is also an eye-opening look at the world of arts and letters in which Gertrude Stein held court. A number of the Modernists of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s are featured in Jonah Winter’s spirited narrative (echoing the stream-of-consciousness style of Stein’s own writing, which included a book for children, The World Is Round ) and Calef Brown’s well-suited, offbeat illustrations. In addition to Stein herself, there’s Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Ernest Hemingway, and Alice B. Toklas, among others. But there is also a poodle named Basket, a pink car named Auntie, and many other things in a book that may captivate toddlers and intrigue older children and teens. (Ages 4–16)

Gertrude
is Gertrude
is Gertrude
is Gertrude.

And Alice is Alice.

And Gertrude and Alice are Gertrude and Alice.

And you are welcome to join them for tea. But beware, for there you will find a bear in a chair, just barely scary. And here is a beard with a man attached to it. And then, of course, some words might appear, uninvited, but delighted in spite of their light bulbs. But, but, but, but—that doesn't make any sense! Yes!

In a story inspired by the oh-so-modern groundbreaking writing of Gertrude herself, not a lot makes sense. Even so, the oh-so-popular author Jonah Winter, and the ever-so-popular illustrator Calef Brown, and the most popular poodle of all time, Basket, invite you to enter the whimsical world of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.