Matthew's Dream

From Publishers Weekly
On a visit to a museum, a mouse discovers his artistic vocation; PW's boxed review said, "In a classic 'less is more' mode, the text is direct yet abundantly meaningful." Ages 3-7. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-- A classy, classic Lionni mouse fable with themes like those in Frederick (1967) or Geraldine, the Music Mouse (1979, both Pantheon). Here, too, the joy, exuberance, and service of an artist's calling are made clear to the very young. A poor mouse couple lives in a dusty attic where they have great hopes for their only child. When they ask Matthew what he wants to be, however, he is uncertain--until the day his class goes on a field trip to the art museum. The paintings make a profound impression on him, and they clarify his vocation; he is to be an artist. In one memorable turn of a page readers see just what the tiny dreamer has seen, as Matthew's imagination transforms the dreary junk of his attic corner into a Picasso-like work of art. Both the torn paper collages and the reproductions of museum " mouse terpieces" in various painting styles invite children to look and look again. A strong, fine book by an illustrator who, like Matthew, paints canvases "filled with the shapes and colors of joy." --Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, VACopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
"One of Lionni's familiar-looking mice lives in a junk-strewn attic. When

Matthew visits an art gallery, he is entranced. That night Matthew dreams about

walking hand in hand through 'playful patches of color.' He awakens, his

inspiration stays with him and he goes on to paint great things. Lionni uses

familiar collage and color techniques, but what colors! He employs bright, rich

hues that stand out smartly against white backgrounds."--School Library

Journal (starred)







Card catalog description
A visit to an art museum inspires a young mouse to become a painter.


From the Inside Flap
"One of Lionni's familiar-looking mice lives in a junk-strewn attic. When Matthew visits an art gallery, he is entranced. That night Matthew dreams about walking hand in hand through 'playful patches of color.' He awakens, his inspiration stays with him and he goes on to paint great things. Lionni uses familiar collage and color techniques, but what colors! He employs bright, rich hues that stand out smartly against white backgrounds."--School Library Journal (starred)  


About the Author
Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books. He died in 1999 at the age of 89.


From the Hardcover edition.


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K-Gr 3-- A classy, classic Lionni mouse fable with themes like those in Frederick (1967) or Geraldine, the Music Mouse (1979, both Pantheon). Here, too, the joy, exuberance, and service of an artist's calling are made clear to the very young. A poor mouse couple lives in a dusty attic where they have great hopes for their only child. When they ask Matthew what he wants to be, however, he is uncertain--until the day his class goes on a field trip to the art museum. The paintings make a profound impression on him, and they clarify his vocation; he is to be an artist. In one memorable turn of a page readers see just what the tiny dreamer has seen, as Matthew's imagination transforms the dreary junk of his attic corner into a Picasso-like work of art. Both the torn paper collages and the reproductions of museum `` mouse terpieces'' in various painting styles invite children to look and look again. A strong, fine book by an illustrator who, like Matthew, paints canvases ``filled with the shapes and colors of joy.'' --Anna Biagioni Hart, Sherwood Regional Library, Alexandria, VA


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