Micawber: Book and CD [Hardcover]

John Lithgow (Author), C. F. Payne (Illustrator)

Book Description

A squirrel named Micawber loves the paintings he sees through the windows of the nearby art museum. One day he notices an artist copying the old masters, and he decides to do the same -- with surprising results.

In their second collaboration, best-selling author-illustrator team John Lithgow and C. F. Payne introduce children to the world of art through the eyes -- and paint-splattered tail -- of a highly creative squirrel.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The team behind The Remarkable Farkle McBride returns with another high-spirited tale celebrating the arts. While young Farkle found joy in orchestral music, Micawber the squirrel is a lover of the fine art of painting. The refined New York City rodent makes a weekly scamper from his Central Park nest to the nearby "palace on Fifth Avenue" (the Metropolitan Museum of Art), where he can "feast... his eyes and his heart" on countless masterworks. On one such museum visit Micawber stows away among an art student's supplies and winds up in the woman's apartment, where he clandestinely uses her equipment to paint his own canvases, substituting his bushy tail for a brush. As months pass, the benign bandit assembles his own colorful gallery in his home atop the park's carousel. In a tighter, more linear text than Farkle, Lithgow conveys the sense of discovery and emotional enjoyment one can experience while observing or creating art. The vast majority of lines here have a musical rhythm, though young readers may need to puzzle out the meaning of words like "peregrination." Payne's mixed-media compositions capture an area of Manhattan at its clean, sunny best. His varying perspectives and occasionally paint-splattered backgrounds embrace all the exhilaration of Lithgow's words. Ages 5-8. FYI: Included is a CD recording of Lithgow reading his text.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Lithgow's love of language and wordplay shines throughout his work."

-- USA TODAY

"Another high-spirited tale celebrating the arts."

-- Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; Book and CD-ROM edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689833415
• ISBN-13: 978-0689833410
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writing a children's book was not something that I pursued. It pursued me. It started when I was asked to write a narration for a symphony for kids. I realized that it had the text for a book. From that text "The Remarkable Farkle McBride" was born. And once the first book was successful, others followed.

My sixth (!) children's book, "Marsupial Sue Presents the Runaway Pancake," was just published this fall. This is a sequel to "Marsupial Sue," one of my most popular storybook characters.This story was inspired in part by two different things: The "Runaway Pancake" song is a guaranteed show stopper whenever I sing it in one of my Paloozicals Concert for Kids , and my performing on Broadway this year in "Dirty Rotton Scoundrels" made me think that Sue might like to put on a show of her own with all of her animal friends.

I credit my parents for fostering my love of literature and books. I have fond memories of my father reading chapters aloud from great thick books like "The Jungle Book" and "A Teller of Tales".

I have carried on my father's tradition by reading aloud to my own kids when they were little. I have also started a few traditions of my own, like singing to them and playing really mediocre guitar, building castles with them out of refrigerator boxes and treasure hunts across museums. Once I even created a very elaborate paper chase across the entire campus of UCLA for my daughter Phoebe's 16th Birthday. Some of these games were inspiration for all of the Lithgow Palooza books and books with kits that have been published by both Simon and Schuster and Running Press.

Although writing is an arduous process for me, there is nothing better than seeing a child falling in love with one of my stories.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for kids of all ages, January 27, 2003

By 

book-loving mom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Micawber: Book and CD (Hardcover)

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!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy Everything by John Lithgow!, October 1, 2002

By 

Patricia KollarFrancazio (salem, ct United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Micawber: Book and CD (Hardcover)

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!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still my 3 year old's favorite, November 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Micawber: Book and CD (Hardcover)

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.