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List Price: $17.95 | | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Salesrank: 13332
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| Our Price: $3.29 |
| Used Price: $0.07 |
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| Media: Hardcover |
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Editorial Review:
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.
Micawber Reviews:
Interesting book... Much Potential for the Right Readers 
2008-05-23 - I enjoyed this story about a clever and creative little squirrel who savors fine art. This book has the potential to turn young people on to the visual arts and to the treasures museums offer. I love the "Norman Rockwellish" final illustration in the book --depicting Micawber rendering his own self-portrait.
This book could frustrate struggling young readers who might try to read it independently; the included CD is a great solution for that particular issue. For advanced young readers / students (ages 6-10), this book offers some meaty vocabulary challenges, higher thinking concepts, and if parent / teacher directed, some beneficial, value-based talking points such as these: 1) What is a museum, and why would people go there? 2) Who are Van Dyck, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet? 3) Should Micawber travel home with the stranger? 4) Should he mess with the artist's supplies? 5) What themes would a squirrel paint in his pictures? 6) What did the squirrel gain from his adventures? 7) How would you paint a picture?
For home-schooling parents / guardians, this might make an interesting "humanities" reading choice.
LOve the vocabulary!! 
2008-02-23 - I love this book!! The squirrel is adorable and I love how he has his own art exhibit in the end!! Great art appreciation! I also love the great use of vocabulary in the text! I had to grab a dictionary on a word and that was great to show my children that even adults are always learning!!!
My 2 1/2 year old and 6 year old fell in love with Micawber as well!! Well written and CF Payne does wonderful illustrations! A perfect gift for a budding artist! I just bought 2!!
Painteriffic!!!!!!
2008-01-11 - My nine year old daughter thinks this was a really good book which was easy to read and very creative. Loved the pictures!!! Great childrens book!!! I completely agree with her. This was a very cute book with a nice message!
alternate morals
2007-09-08 - It's a cute story, but I'm a little unsure about the morals behind a squirrell using someone's paints without permission. It's kind of...um..stealing. It's cute for a young reader who may not yet have the concept of property.
So fun to read!
2007-08-02 - Might be a little confusing for kids because of the big words (I had to look a few up!) but it is so much fun to read. I really liked that my son questioned a lot of the words he hadn't heard before so he learned some vocabulary too. At first I thought it wasn't a "kid's" book but now I think it's awesome.
