The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau

The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau, written by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Amanda Hall, published in 2012, is a children’s picture book biography about the beloved artist Henri Rousseau.

Children may already be familiar with Rousseau’s striking and exotic jungle scenes, showing scary eyes glinting through the foliage. They may have seen his pictures in art galleries around the world but might not be aware of the creative struggle he endured throughout his life, as he fought to have his mesmerising paintings accepted and not ridiculed. We learn that Henri is ‘a toll collector. He’s forty years old. But he buys some canvas, paint and brushes, and starts painting anyway.’ Michelle Markel’s poignant text traces Henri’s journey of creative self-education and artistic achievement, while Amanda Hall’s compelling illustrations reflect and weave their own spells around Rousseau’s paintings to tell his story visually. The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau is a unique picture book and is steadily gaining a well-deserved international following.

The vivid illustrations in this picture book – created using pencil crayon and water color inks – pay tribute to Henri Rousseau’s paintings.

This is the first of two picture books by this acclaimed author and illustrator team who have since gone on to collaborate on Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington, published by Balzer & Bray / an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2019.

Email Amanda via her contact form and your inquiry will be forwarded to her licensing agent.

The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau

Written by Michelle Markel

“Rousseau’s spirit has inspired Amanda Hall: this book is a captivating homage to a lavish, playful, painterly world… Meanwhile, Markel tells his story, and lets us know how art eventually won out against establishment ridicule. – this book is the freshest of breezes.”
— The Observer/ Kate Kellaway