Customer Reviews

Norman the Doorman (Picture Puffin Books)

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This book is a visual and literary play on the ever-inspiring animal name of dormouse. These are a kind of rodent that in some ways resemble a squirrel. Every humor writer who has ever seen that name has wanted to have fun with it. The wonderful Don Freeman (of Corduroy fame) takes that artistic license one step further by building a Horatio Alger story around his door mouse and doing his own renditions of paintings and sculptures in this beautiful volume. Puns and fun abound, so keep an eye out for them!

Norman is clearly a door mouse, he even has a door mouse's uniform (just like those you see on Park Avenue in New York). His door is around the back of the Majestic Museum of Art. It is well hidden, and he brings in small creatures that way for tours of the art works in the museum's basement. In addition to his docent duties, he has established a studio in the helmet of some old armor, using the visor as a skylight. From there, he paints and sculpts. Life does present challenges though, because the sharp-eyed upstairs guard is always setting traps with cheese. Norman is able to disable them, and brings the spare parts to his home.

The story develops when one day Norman notices that there is a sculpture competition going on. Using mouse trap parts, he makes his own sculpture and names it punnily trapeese (trap and cheese being the sources) because it appears to be a mouse doing acrobatics holding onto a high wire.

Norman drags his sculpture into the room where the competition is being held, without being seen. Then the fun begins!

The story ends with one final pun. "Good Knight."

The plot is a very rewarding one, creating the sort of inspiration that books about "little engines that could" do. I have always been impressed with friends who could make a lot out of a little. It's a gift I do not have. This book is a worthy example of that principle. You can extend the lesson by discussing with your child how she or he might create something wonderful out of something else, including "junk."

Art lovers will find the illustrations to be a great treat. Mr. Freeman has created wonderful reproductions of works by many major artists, which he sneaks into scenes of Norman in the museum. I was particularly impressed by one Miro, where even the signature is faithfully reproduced in pastels.

You can also use this story to suggest going to an art museum. You can even go around the base of the building to see if you can find any door mice, or holes where they might be hiding. This can help you find arts wherever you go!

However you decide to use this book, I encourage you to renew your artistic license so you can explore the world of created beauty with your children and grandchildren in museums!

Norman the door-mouse welcomes discriminating rodents to view the paintings and sculptures stored in the basement of the Majestic museum. In his spare time, Norman has his own studio in a knight's helmet, which is also a good hiding place from the security guard! He cleverly uses an old mousetrap to create his own wire sculpture of a mouse swinging on a mousetrap, and enters it into a museum competition. There's a lot of visual humor, and Freeman makes the whole tuxedo-ed affair look fun and interesting, and there's a suspenseful subplot involving the guard trying to find Norman. (No animals were injured in the writing of the book.) There's a nice warm simplicity to Freeman's soft but colorful pastel illustrations; they're drawn with such ease that both they and the story may stimulate your own creative energy. Another excellent book from Freeman!

A story of art appreciation and how it's possible for even a little mouse to be an artist. Norman has an important job as the doorman to the Majestic Art Museum where he lets mice in and tours them around the basement of the Art museum where there are many treasures. He acts as security guard, curator and tour guide for his portion of the museum and he takes great care and pride in each artifact. The only thing that causes a stir in the basement is when the sharp-eyed guard from the main museum comes down to set traps for the mice. Norman is clever and he has figured a way to take the cheese from the traps and set them off without hurting a whisker. His home is in the knight's helmet where he has a very comfortable setup and he spends his free time creating artwork. One day he decides to make a sculpture from the old traps and picture hanging wire. When he has finished his creation he is delighted and proud. Early the next morning he see a sign announcing a sculpture contest. Norman is very excited. He runs back in and titles his sculpture "Trapeese". Then he painstakingly carries it up the steps, through the main floor of the museum and puts his sculpture with the others. Norman was proud of his efforts. Once he got back home he sewed some buttons on his jacket and went about the business of being a doorman. Upstairs in the main hall everyone is talking about his sculpture and who had entered it. The judges questioned the guards about who had brought in the sculpture but none of them knew. When the sharp-eyed guard looked closer he figured that one of his mousetraps had been used for the sculpture. Downstairs he went into the basement, where he found Norman's home. Norman was waiting at the door cold and hungry for a party of country mice who were due to arrive at any time. The guard spots Norman who dashes off but is enticed out by a piece of cheese. The guard catches and questions Norman about using his mousetraps for artistic purposes, Norman's response is that "It's just a hobby, just my hobby!". Norman was sure he was being taken to jail. He was very surprised to hear the crowds shouting "Hooray for Trapeese!" The guard too was amazed and rushed to the judges' platform so that Norman could receive his award. When asked what he wanted, Norman indicated seeing the upstairs part of the museum without getting caught would be a good reward. So he was taken on a grand tour of the entire art museum. When Norman returned to the basement, he found the country mice waiting for him and he shared the large piece of cheddar cheese that the kind-hearted guard had given to him. The story ends with Norman warm and snug in his helmet. I just loved this book!

As a children's librarian, I highly recommend this classic tale of kindness by Don Freeman. I purchased this book to send to a very kind and polite student at Brown University! Our world needs to be reminded that random acts of kindness and politeness, like holding a door make life more enjoyable for all. Hooray for all of the door holders throughout the world!

I remember this book when I was a child, and the many hoursspent gazing at the pictures. Norman is a mouse who has a cool pad inthe helmet of an old armor stored in the basement of a museum. He enters an art contest sponsored by the museum and wins. When my two year old turns four, he will receive it for his birthday.

This is a delightful story of a mouse and his love for art. In the story he creates his own work of art,and it is loved by all. Norman the Doorman is a wonderful children's story.

I love all of Don Freeman's books. I remember them from when I was little and read them to my children and now I am expecting my first grandchild. I want a fun library of books to read when he and other future grandchildren come to my house.

I am in my early 50's and remember the magic of hearing/seeing this read on Captain Kangaroo. The beautiful watercolor illustrations made the treasures in the museum come to life. And the charming and humble Norman- a true hero. The puns are enchanting! Don Freeman captures a child's curious, obedient heart in his books. Earl the Squirrel is another of our favorites. I have 6 grandchildren and they are fans too!

I first heard this story in kindergarten and instantly loved it. Years later as a teacher, I would always read it to my class. We would talk about how even though the main character was little, he was still brave and followed his dreams even in the face of big obstacles. I have multiple copies and have just ordered another for my niece. Can I give it ten stars??

I'm so glad we happened onto a copy of this at the local thrift store! Norman has been one of the most loved and enduring characters in my children's library for 3 years and counting!

Norman is not only a mouse, but a doorman operating out of the basement of the Majestic Museum of Art, where all the forgotten works have been stashed. Forgotten by all, that is, but Norman who is there to greet all the 'art loving creatures' who come to see these treasures. Norman loves his job, but strives to be an artist himself. So, when the opportunity arises, he drags a sculpture he has composed from a sprung mousetrap from his knight's helmet home into the upper museum to compete in a contest in which 'all artists great and small' are invited to participate.

The words flow smoothly. The story is fun and it is simply so well-written that it is pure joy to read - and I've read it dozens upon dozens of times, each with equal joy. I am thrilled when my children pull this book of the shelf, and there are few books I can say that for, though we must own in excess of 700 picture books. The puns are clever - so much so that they never seems to grow old. The pencil-drawn pictures are delightful.

This may well be my favorite book by Don Freeman, and I've read nearly all of them. Highly recommended.