Mr. Owliver loves his job as night watchman for the Animaltown Art Museum, partly because hes an owl and is up at night anyway, but mostly because he's proud to protect such beautiful works of art. His friends think he must be lonely, but he has the company of all the subjects in the paintings. One in particular, the lovely Ms. Wren in Auguste Wrenoirs The Loge, is his favorite. One night on his birthday he has a feeling things arent as they should be. Thats when he makes a startling discovery that begins a night full of surprises. This is definitely a birthday Mr. Owliver will never forget! This book is designed to introduce children to some famous masterpieces while entertaining the adult reader with visual puns.
Carolyn Bracken’s work can be found in well over 300 publications from Mother Goose to licensed books such as Magic Schoolbus and Fancy Nancy. Mr. Owliver is the first book she has both written and illustrated.
"Mr. Owliver's Magic at the Museum" is a masterpiece of an art lover's story. Mr. Owliver is a dedicated night watchman at the Animaltown Art Museum, where he spends each night protecting and admiring the beautiful masterpieces of art he loves. Mr. Owliver stays after the day patrons and the cleaning crew all go home and visits each of his favorite paintings, all of which are shown in loving detail. he liked to eat his lunch at one special painting called "The Loge" by Auguste Wrenoir. He never felt lonely with his paintings, and he always felt that they were happy to see him. On the night of his birthday, Mr. Owliver brought a special treat to eat with his masterpiece friends. Imagine his distress when he began to notice that there were beloved figures missing from his paintings! What could have happened? Where were they all? When Mr. Owliver opens the last gallery door, a wonderful surprise is waiting for him. Children will love the animal patrons and art subjects that replace human figures in the masterpieces, with admiration and apologies to the original artists and their masterpieces. A final key lists each painting in miniature with information about it and where it can be seen, followed by a fascinating Art History Timeline that places each painting in its consecutive period, from Renaissance (1500-1600 AD) to Cubism (1910 A.D). and Modernism (1930 AD). Children will love Mr. Owliver and his masterpiece friends, learning that great art is meant to be loved, experienced, and treasured by all. As might be expected, the illustrations are both adorable and masterful. -- Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookwatch
A great introduction to art history for aspiring young painters ages five to seven. -- Calgary Herald
