#6 Micawber

Title: Micawber
Author: John Lithgow
Illustrator: C. F. Payne

Publishing Company: Aladdin Paperbacks
Copyright Date: 2002
Number of Pages: 36

Genre/Category: Picture Books

     I chose to read Micawber because it is about Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and I recently visited both places. Micawber is a squirrel who lives in Central Park and loves to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One day, Micawber finds a woman replicating a painting by Monet. He is amazed by her, so he secretly climbs into her paint box and travels home with her. During the night, Micawber uses the woman's art supplies to paint his very first painting. Without her knowing, he returns over and over again, and he soon turns his house on top of the carousel in Central Park into his own art museum.

     According to the book, the illustrations are done with mixed media. I would have guessed that they were painted. On most pages, the entire page is an illustration with the text on top of it. I think this helps the reader get the feeling about how important art is. On the white pages, it looks like different colored paints have been splattered on them. These are especially prominent once Micawber starts painting with his bushy tail.

Monet's Water Lillies at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

     Micawber is a New York Times Bestseller, and it is recommended for children ages 4-8. Some of the words are really difficult though and would definitely have to be explained. The paint colors are not described using basic colors like blue, red, or green, but they are described as colors like magenta, vermilion, and ultramarine. I think this book could be used to show an example of descriptive writing. The entire book is extremely descriptive and paints a picture in the readers mind. I also found that the author did not use many basic words, and it would make a good lesson on synonyms and how to use them in writing. The author replaced looked with rifled through and peered. These are just a couple of the numerous examples throughout the book. This would also be a good book to use when talking about New York or introducing a famous artist's work to the class. Many famous artists, such as Monet and Van Gogh, are mentioned in Micawber. Another way it could be used in the classroom is for a poetry lesson. There is so much that could be done with this book since it is well written, interesting, and brightly illustrated. It is definitely on my list of keepers.