Micawber

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Summary: For the Love of Art.....
Review: "One Sunday in springtime, Micawber arose/From his Central Park Carousel nest./He straightened his whiskers and polished his nose/And set off for the place he loved best..." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where day in and day out, he gazes, lovingly, at the masters through the windows and skylights. One day he watches a student copy a painting. "He noted the stroke of each brush she'd extend,/The rare concentration and care she'd expend./She'd become his unwitting and unknowing friend/By the time the day started to fade..." So he stows away in her paint box, and that night as the young artist sleeps, Micawber begins to paint, discovering the wonders of color. "He returned thirty times by the following fall,/And the paintings poured forth like a geyser./He fastened them all to his living-room wall,/And the woman was never the wiser..." The dynamic team of John Lithgow and C.F. Payne, who brought us the joys of music-making in The Remarkable Farkle McBride, are back to introduce children to the wonders of art and creativity. Mr Lithgow's clever, exuberant text, is filled with rhyme, rhythm, energy, and wordplay, and just begs to be read aloud by an enthusiastic storyteller. Mr Payne's paint-splattered, engaging illustrations help bring this innovative story to life with rich color, marvelous facial expressions and eye-catching details. Together word and art open the world of art appreciation to youngsters 4-8, using an endearing and captivating little squirrel. "And if you should visit the old Carousel,/Look up at its uppermost part./Inside, although nobody ever could tell,/A talented squirrel continues to dwell./If you try, you can picture it, clear as a bell:/MICAWBER'S MUSEUM OF ART."

Rating:
Summary: Great for kids of all ages
Review: At least one other reviewer claims 'Micawber' is inappropriate for younger kids, based on the reaction of one 4-year old. I would just like to say that my 17-month old chooses both 'Micawber' and the other Lithgow/Payne collaboration, 'The Remarkable Farkle McBride', from the shelf for me to read to her, and listens all the way through to both books, laughing at and pointing to the illustrations along the way (especially Micawber's self-portraits). I believe she is responding not just to the pictures, but to the rhythm and lilt of the poetry as well. This is NOT just a book for grownups!

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Summary: A unique, clever story & colorful, charming illustrations
Review: If you buy one gift for that special someone in your life, make sure it's by Lithgow. His music and his books are superb! Micawber is delightful, the entire family dropped everything to sit on the couch for this one! Not a book just for reading, its the kind of book you dive into, become a part of, get lost in! Lithgow is a master at everything he does, his talents are breathtaking! Pop one of his recorded selections into your stereo, any one of which has the power to turn the crankiest child, the most frazzled mom, the most serious of men into a crazy, singing, joyful idiot before the end of the first song!Bring laughter into the lives of those you love, pick them up anything by John Lithgow!

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Summary: Interesting rhymes and unusual word choices
Review: In this charming book, John Lithgow uses clever rhymes, avoiding one syllable words and expected endings. As his little squirrel adventures through New York City on his journey to become a self-made artist, vocabulary words and artistic concepts are skillfully introduced to children. My 2 year old daughter loves to have this book read over and over, and fortunately it is sweet and intelligent enough that I enjoy it nearly as much as she does. Every squirrel we see is now called Micawber and she wonders aloud if he might have paint on his tail if she could just get close enough to see. I highly recommend it for any young, curious child, just be prepared for him or her to develop an unusal interest in your neighborhood squirrels!

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Summary: Still my 3 year old's favorite
Review: In this wonderful book about a little squirrel's adventures, Lithgow seems to know that even a small child can understand the elaborate, descriptive words he uses to rhyme. I love the fact that he doesn't speak down to children, but brings them up to his level. C.F. Payne is also an amazing artist that brings Micawber and all of his escapades to life. His friends are a little too realistic for me, but it gives me the opportunity to show my daughter nature without actually having to touch the real thing!! :) My daughter loves to find things we may have overlooked or simply forgotten about and she is now asking about the Monet "depicting a haystack at twilight" as well as the other artists mentioned. We recently used this as an opportunity to see more art in books and the museum. She also loves to hear Lithgow reading the story and I use it as a special treat just for her. I purchased this book for her over a year ago and it is still one of her favorites.

Rating:
Summary: An inviting story
Review: Kids ages 4-8 will find this an inviting story of a squirrel who loves the paintings he sees through the window of an art museum. One day he notices a street artist copying the masterpieces - and he decides to try his own hand at art, with some unexpected results. A CD of the author reading this story is included.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book John!
Review: this is an excellent book to read to kids& a cute story about squirrel that learns how paint by watching a human painter. john lithgow words make it enjoyable even for adults to read it over & over again & the pictures are full of life & color. it comes with a cd of john reading his story so parents can take a rest .

Highly recommended for bedtime reading for children.

Rating:
Summary: What a treat!
Review: This was such a treat, to read a children's book by John Lithgow. I have only known him as an actor, so this was interesting to pick up. I loved this story! It has a magical element that both children and adults will love, I am sure. The choice of vocabulary he uses, alone, is amazing. Children, (and maybe even adults), will find new words, or artists mentioned in this book. This squirrel loves art. It makes one almost giggle how he after observing many works of art, he comes to make his own, and...(well, you just have to read the book to see how it ends.) It is a very cute story, and if you are like me, it will get you thinking about the sqirrels you have seen in your life that have more than one color on their tail. A very cute thing to watch for with the children. It will bring a smile to your face.