SQUEAKING OF ART, The Mice Go to the Museum - Hardcover

Monica Wellingtonwas born in London and lived in Switzerland and Germany as a child.She has written and illustrated many books for young children, including Mr. Cookie Baker and Apple Farmer Annie. She now lives in New York City, where she teaches at the School of Visual Arts.

PreSchool-Grade 2-This book helps adults and children to "develop the skills and vocabulary for looking at, talking about, and enjoying art together." Ten mice tour a variety of thematic galleries, e.g., "Portraits," "Landscapes," "Still Lifes," and "Fantastic Creatures." On the walls are simplified renditions of famous masterpieces (mostly by male European and American artists) and short notes on the theme or genre. Printed on white borders below are engaging questions ("What are your favorite colors in these paintings? What shapes can you find-?") and commentary from the mice. Each spread also features a cat that adds a component from each exhibit into her own painting as she tours the museum. There's a lot going on, and children may have trouble staying focused. The vivid gouache pictures are busy; the reproductions are reminiscent of, but less effective than the originals. A complete list of the works and where they are located is appended. Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown's Visiting the Art Museum (Dutton, 1992) uses dialogue bubbles to present conversations about art in a less distracting manner. Nevertheless, shared one-on-one with a child, Wellington's age-appropriate questions and playful approach to art work both as model and motivation for visiting a museum.
Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
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