Paint your palette blue and gray

Look out on a summer's day

With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.

(Don McLean, "Vincent")

"This book borrows from my song Vincent. At the time I was reading a book about the Dutch painter and was moved to compose a song that paid homage to the artist, his work, and his pain. But really, Judith Proffer hardly needed my song's inspiration since she has a beautiful imagination. We know Vincent's life didn't have a happy ending, but by honoring his illness we take a once cloistered conversation and bring it to the forefront." - Don McLean

A long, long time ago lived a shy and fairly quiet boy named Vincent.

Vincent saw things differently than other children. Where other children experienced light and joy, Vincent lived in shadows and a gloomy darkness. He was drawn to the beauty of the world that surrounded him, but Vincent struggled to recognize the beauty within himself. And so he made colorful drawings on his sketchpad to chase away the greyest of feelings. As he grew older and his sorrow deepened, Vincent turned to bold canvases, capturing the swirl of emotions with his mighty brushstrokes.

Lushly illustrated in the spirit of some of Van Gogh's greatest works, Vincent gently fosters empathy and understanding, painting a vivid and tender picture of sadness and strife to inspire compassion and kindness within the hearts of children of all ages.

Both accessible and hopeful, Vincent encourages readers to nurture their own creativity and tend to their own twirl of feelings, and also sparks conversation to understand that it's okay to seek help when faced with challenges - all while honoring Van Gogh's enduring legacy.

Don McLean's song "Vincent" poignantly reflects the profound melancholy of Vincent van Gogh, whose life was marked by intense emotional struggles. As the second single released from McLean's American Pie album, "Vincent" reached number one in the UK and was a top 20 hit in the US in 1972. It remains McLean's second most popular song after "American Pie." It's been recorded by Josh Groban, Ellie Goulding, Julio Iglesias, and Jane Olivor.

Judith A. Proffer is the author of Patsy Cline's Walkin' After Midnight, Broadway Baby, Bondi & Poppy Help Heal the Planet (Moonbeam Spirit Award Recipient for Preservation and Stewardship) and When We Stayed Home.

Yoko Matsuoka is a professional fantasy artist living in northern Japan.

From Meteor 17 Books, publisher of Graham Nash's Our House, Broadway Baby, Heart's Dog & Butterfly, and Brandi Carlile's