In this charming tale of perspective, a little moth loses faith in her own artistic skills.On Monday, Paty the moth remembers that she has an art exhibition opening on Thursday and no art to display! In a panic, she calls up three of her friends-Isabelle the spider, Pierre the caterpillar, and Mona the shrimp-and asks them to pose for her. Unfortunately, each is incensed by the results. Poor Paty is chagrined, but before she can cancel the show, Thursday arrives, and a splendid gatefold in the book reveals an elegant gallery and creatures complimenting each of Paty's subjects in turn. Though Isabelle, Pierre, and Mona were unable to see Paty's brilliance, others can appreciate what they did not. At the end, young readers are encouraged to paint a portrait of their own; a blank canvas is provided, with images of insects taking selfies nearby. Ethereal brushstrokes and the lightest of tones and hues give this French import both allure and verve by turns. And while one might well wonder if a book about an art opening would be appealing to children, the need to have our creative endeavors not simply appreciated but recognized is universal.Any child who has displayed art proudly and found it misunderstood will find a kindred soul in this utterly amiable story. (Picture book. 3-6)

This ardent tale about the artist’s life starts just days before the opening of an exhibition. Artist Paty, who has silvery wings, huge eyes, and a long proboscis, works in a high-ceilinged studio in what appears to be a Paris garret. Despite the deadline, she has yet to prepare, and the pressure is on. Friend Isabelle, a poufy purple spider, happily agrees to pose for a watercolor portrait but is underwhelmed with the result: “Humph,” Lewis translates in conversational text. Pierre the caterpillar doesn’t like the paper collage Paty painstakingly makes of him (“If I knew you saw me as some hairy old garden hose...”), and Mona the shrimp doesn’t mince words: “THIS was what I had in mind!” she says, holding up a copy of the Mona Lisa. Author-illustrator Lebourg sets up expectations for the show, then confounds them when a pleasant surprise awaits Paty there. In pen and ink–style art highlighted by soft washes, the heavy-lidded googly eyes of Paty and her passionate friends garner reader smiles in this tale about the personal and sometimes downright irrational feelings evoked by works of art. Ages 3–8. (Feb.)