Micawber (Hardcover)

by John Lithgow (Author), C. F. Payne (Illustrator) "One Sunday in springtime, Micawber arose..." (more)

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 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Book and CD-ROM edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689833415
• ISBN-13: 978-0689833410
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #290,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 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

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy Everything by John Lithgow!, October 2, 2002

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

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

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.