This book wasn't what I thought it would be. What it is: a loving tribute to the art master Hervé Tullet, with essays about his life, artistic influences, and artistic journey. What it is not: an adult version of Press Here or any of his other iconic children's books, allowing adults to share in the joy of his unique style of participatory art play.

The book is constructed to showcase Tullet's playful art throughout - and it was a joy to see more of his art and illustration beyond the lines and primary colors used for the children's books. As an artist myself, though, I found myself intensely curious about what happens when he meets with participants. What prompts are given to children in workshops that allows them the freedom to do such amazing things with paint? What are the parameters of the Ideal Exhibition that makes it a Tullet exhibition and not a random collection of amateur expression? What makes a participatory artistic experience? Can anyone adopt the freedom and play techniques by themselves, not using participatory prompts?

Oh well, I'll wait for the next one, I guess, and in the meantime I'll enjoy looking at the beautiful things in this book.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.