Developed as a series of diary entries, this oversized picture book offers a speculative account of young Pieter Bruegel’s two-year journey from Antwerp to Rome, and back again, in the mid-1500s. Basing his story primarily on Bruegel’s art and the experiences of Bruegel’s peers, Schafer has fleshed the bare facts out into an intriguing account of time and place. Bruegel’s travels include a stop in Lyon, an arduous trek through the Alps, and journeys by boat between Genoa, Naples, and Palermo. Detailed pencil drawings washed with watercolor and acrylics often show the young artist observing and recording the scenes around him, aspects of which appear in his later works. Reproductions of 16 of Bruegel’s drawings and paintings with commentary are included, as well as a lengthy author’s note. (Ages 8-12)