Alexander had a wire. He could use it to make anything he saw in his mind: an umbrella for unexpected showers or a bunch of wire-haired dogs. But how could he make something that would move all by itself? Inspired by the life and work of Alexander Calder (1898–1976), Posthuma has written and illustrated a book in praise of the imagination. With one swift movement, his pen captures the most amazing and wonderful figures, which he highlights using the bright colours of Calder’s later mobiles.

Alexander Calder’s Wonderful Wire is part of a series of picture books about art produced by Leopold and the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. This successful series differs from other art books for children because of its fictional element, which gives authors and illustrators the opportunity to combine their own creative skills with those of the artist they admire.