Most Popular Books by Rien Poortvliet

Luckily for everyone, the famous artist Rien Poortvliet, who from his pastoral retreat in Holland has charmed millions with his books Gnomes, The Living Forest, and The Farm Book, felt the urge to make another book. Almost before he knew it, he was setting down on paper, with pencil and brush, the myriad thoughts, memories, observations, and comments that flowed into his mind. Here, in his own words and in his inimitable sketches and paintings, is the story of the artist''s life, by turns matter-of-fact and sentimental, serious and comic. Here are is family (the grownups and the babies), his friends (human and animal), and the people of the village--as well as persons vividly remembered from the past. Some of Poortvliet''s keenest recollections are of World War II: holding on to his mother''s hand as they watched the bombing of Rotterdam in the distance; being bored but grateful for endless meals of mashed carrots, onions, and potatoes during the starvation winter; feeling horror at the sight of angry mobs painting red swastikas on the shaved heads of the camp followers of the German troops. Poortvliet''s spontaneous evocations of the varied aspects of the Netherlands--through his superb drawings and paintings and his sensitive running comment--give the reader a strong sense of the land and its inhabitants. His depictions of people in their customary daily pursuits and of woodland animals in their natural settings alike arouse profound admiration. Dutch Treat is pervaded by a sense of the beauty of nature and its creatures and leavened by Poortvliet''s gentle but irrepressible humor. No one will be able to resist it. -- Inside jacket flap.

Presents illustrations of many varieties of dogs and includes brief information on their history, physical characteristics, behavior, and uses.

The author, a popular Dutch artist, presents paintings of Noah''s ark and its animals, both on the ark and in their natural settings.

The vivid illustrations of famed Dutch artist and naturalist Rien Poortvliet are admired all over the world. His warm and imaginative portrayals and stories of people, animals, or such fantastic creatures as gnomes are loved by readers of all generations. His countless fans will be enchanted by this intriguing new book, Daily Life in Holland in the Year 1566, And the Story of My Ancestor''s Treasure Chest. To create this latest gem, Poortvliet found inspiration in the rich legacy of Dutch landscape and genre painting traditions and in his own Dutch heritage as well. He became intrigued by a document dating from the year 1566 that revealed the existence of an armoire owned by his distant ancestor, Jacob Jansz Poortvliet. That armoire led Rien Poortvliet to come upon something valuable indeed - a treasure trove of insights into the world of his ancestor. Characteristically evocative, the words and images in Daily Life in Holland are rich in detail and delicate in coloration, and perhaps the most beautiful of any of Poortvliet''s works to date. In this fascinating saga, he recreates the lives of his forebears as they toiled and celebrated their way through daily existence. He does not conjure up a romantic vision of the past - the Dutch countryside was not all tulips and windmills! There were adversity and hard work, and we learn that 1566 was an extraordinary year in Holland, marked by famine and plague, great freezes, floods and droughts, comets and earthquakes, and an invasion by the Spanish as well. Poortvliet''s colorful account unfolds before us to reveal how ordinary men, women, and children lived: what kinds of clothes they wore, what their houses were like, what they are and how theycooked. How did they celebrate Christmas? What did the people do for a living and what kind of money did they have? What did a girl''s engagement ring look like? How many different kinds of swords and firearms did they have? Exploring his own roots, Poortvliet captures the beauty of everyday life and livelihood in turbulent sixteenth-century Holland. Rien Poortvliet is recognized as the greatest living Dutch artist. He first won acclaim in this country when Abram''s Gnomes and Secrets of the Gnomes (text by Wil Huygen) became best-sellers. His other Abrams books - Dutch Treat, The Living Forest, The Farm Book, Dogs, The Book of the Sandman, In My Grandfather''s House, and Noah''s Ark - have also won a devoted following. His works are popular as well in Australian, Canadian, Danish, German, Finnish, French, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, and Yugoslavian editions.

LA GUÍA DEFINITIVA PARA CONOCER A LOS GNOMOS Y RECORDAR NUESTRA INFANCIA. ¿Sabías que los gnomos viven entre nosotros? ¿O que un gnomo es siete veces más fuerte que un humano? ¿O que siempre tienen gemelos? Las preciosas ilustraciones de Rien Poortvliet y las minuciosas observaciones de Wil Huygen sobre los hábitos, la anatomía y el estilo de vida de estas criaturas son una delicia para todos los lectores que han disfrutado de este libro durante generaciones y que ahora publicamos en una edición revisada. Los más curiosos adorarán inspeccionar la vivienda subterránea del gnomo y los datos llenos de humor encantarán a los interesados en sus costumbres. Nadie puede resistirse al maravilloso hechizo de los gnomos, guardianes de la naturaleza y el hogar. ¿POR QUÉ LEER LOS GNOMOS? Un clásico infantil que regresa para conquistar a una nueva generación de lectores. Una nueva edición revisada y actualizada. Las ilustraciones son magistrales y están tan llenas de detalles que parecen fotografías. Un perfecto crossover ideal para lectores de todas las edades.

The acclaimed Dutch painter and illustrator of the enormously successful Gnomes takes readers back hundreds of thousands of years to the Ice Age. Through more than 220 pages of full-color illustrations and incisive text, Rien Poortvliet presents an up-close look at real and imaginary Ice Age animals.

A clock with movable hands helps children learn to tell time.

Learn how gnome families spend their day.