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Micawber: Micawber
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.
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.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
John Lithgow
104 books308 followersJohn Lithgow is a prolific actor with two Tonys, six Emmys, two Golden Globes, and two Oscar nominations to his name. He has starred in the hit TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, and The Crown, and in beloved films like The World According to Garp, Shrek, and Terms of Endearment. Lithgow has appeared on Broadway twenty-five times and in England with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He is also the bestselling author of nine children’s picture books, and his recordings for kids have landed him four Grammy nominations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 9, 2015
John Lithgow is a recognizable actor. Cereal was sold with his books and we consider literature a valuable deal! I have at last, read two. I am delighted by the passion in “Micawber”. A glance at other feedback tells me John is a well-appreciated author. The disparity of my three publishing dates shows he has authored his special suite of books for some time. I understand John is very musical and as an entertainer of his television calibre, I am not surprised he advocates instilling interest in all of the arts. It is very charming that his audience and pupils of choice are children.
In my first foray, it is the fine arts that we spotlight. A New York City squirrel named Micawber loves climbing the glass skylight of a museum every day, where he admires artwork displayed below. One thing he had never seen was someone creating art from scratch, so he leaps at the chance to follow a young artist home in her backpack. He had watched her for a time and now, at her home with tools at his disposal, he is ready to try it for himself.
This is a heartfelt, inspiring, and happy story about an animal who tries something new and found that learning through observation worked well for him. Most touching of all, he was elated to see that he loved creating paintings as much as looking at other people’s work. He soon paints enough to hang his own gallery and avails it to all animals. C.F. Payne is an artist who draws round contours and a unique, almost skewed perspective; such as placing the eye beneath joggers’ legs as if they might run over us. He creates motion that is palpable and sizes each picture’s environs, so we see it like squirrels.
In my first foray, it is the fine arts that we spotlight. A New York City squirrel named Micawber loves climbing the glass skylight of a museum every day, where he admires artwork displayed below. One thing he had never seen was someone creating art from scratch, so he leaps at the chance to follow a young artist home in her backpack. He had watched her for a time and now, at her home with tools at his disposal, he is ready to try it for himself.
This is a heartfelt, inspiring, and happy story about an animal who tries something new and found that learning through observation worked well for him. Most touching of all, he was elated to see that he loved creating paintings as much as looking at other people’s work. He soon paints enough to hang his own gallery and avails it to all animals. C.F. Payne is an artist who draws round contours and a unique, almost skewed perspective; such as placing the eye beneath joggers’ legs as if they might run over us. He creates motion that is palpable and sizes each picture’s environs, so we see it like squirrels.
December 4, 2018
This is a fun book about a squirrel who appreciates and creates art. We all enjoy John Lithgow's books; our girls love the musical song books the best, but his creativity and sense of humor and whimsy combine for some very memorable books.
The illustrations by C.F. Payne are very distinct and I always think of his Reader's Digest back covers when I see his pictures. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
The illustrations by C.F. Payne are very distinct and I always think of his Reader's Digest back covers when I see his pictures. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
March 21, 2012
Perhaps better known to adults for his stage and screen work, actor John Lithgow has an amazing body of work for children. His picture books are some of my (and my children’s) absolute favorites!
Topping the list for me is The Remarkable Farkle McBride. The story centers around a young boy who is a musical prodigy. He is able to master instrument after instrument with ease, but throws each one away as he becomes bored with it. Through an unfortunate illness on the part of the orchestra conductor one evening, Farkle discovers that it is the sound and experience of ALL the instruments together which brings him joy, as opposed to the mastery of an individual instrument.
The illustrations by C.E. Payne are amazing in their vibrancy and humor. (They remind me of David Catrow with slightly more realistic human facial features.) The text is extremely exciting for several reasons: (1) the melody and rhythm of the words lends itself to read-alouds; (2) the language, while being the opposite of condescending to young readers, is still challenging in vocabulary with words like “beseeching,” “rhapsodical” and “bombastic”; (3) the text contains multiple original examples of onomonapoeia when describing instruments, which offers an excellent opportunity to teach both that specific literary technique, and as an introduction to language as sound, music, and poetry.
The story of Micawber again sees the same team of author and illustrator relate the story of a squirrel who lives in Central Park and enjoys going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One afternoon he sees an art student copying one of the artworks on the wall. This is the first time it has ever occurred to him to think about how the paintings were created in the first place. Intrigued, he stows away in her satchel and accompanies the young student home. Once she is asleep, Micawber, for the first time, experiments with her paints. Using his tail as a brush, he creates his own masterpiece, ties it up with one of the student’s shoelaces and returns home. Once back in Central Park, he converts the upper floor of a carousel into an art museum for the other animals where he shows his growing collection of original canvases.
The same things that are wonderful and thrilling about Farkle exist here in this story about the visual arts. The vocabulary includes words such as “peregrination” and “viridian”. Payne is just as delightful in his illustrations, particularly the image where the student has discovered her shoe–without its shoelace.
Marsupial Sue and Marsupial Sue presents the Runaway Pancake, I’m a Manatee, Mahalia Mouse Goes to College, I Got Two Dogs are additional works by Lithgow.
The Marsupial Sue books are about a kangaroo that wants to be something MORE than a kangaroo, but after traveling to many other areas and trying the ways of several different animals, she determines that being a kangaroo is EXACTLY who and what she wants to be.
I Got Two Dogs is a simple, delightful rhyme about the author’s two dogs with colorful collage-ish illustrations similar in style to those of Todd Parr. I’m a Manatee is a fun, imaginative tale of a boy and a manatee. It can be used for children who are already familiar with and interested in the manatee, or as an introduction to the animal, as well as the dangers to its existence. In my opinion, Mahalia Mouse is the weakest of all his picture books, but it is still a nice little story–just not anything exceptional.
All of Lithgow’s books come with CDs when sold in hardcover. The author usually sings the text of each story on the CD which is great to use at bedtime or in the car.
Lithgow also has music CDs available, which I use at home with my own children, and for my theatre and dance classes. There is an entire Farkle and Friends CD which includes the story of Farkle as well as other pieces of music highlighting orchestral instruments, styles and sounds.
The CDs On the Sunny Side of the Street and Singin’ in the Bathtub contain Broadway and jazz-style songs for children. Some are children’s songs, some songs have the lyrics altered to be extremely silly and appeal specifically to children (and those of us who love music and are children at heart). They are harder to find in retail outlets, but easy to purchase from amazon.com, etc.
Lithgow’s work is for ANYONE who loves language, stories or the arts. I think they are truly brilliant and stand among some of my very favorite books. I highly recommend his work for independent and read-aloud selections.
Topping the list for me is The Remarkable Farkle McBride. The story centers around a young boy who is a musical prodigy. He is able to master instrument after instrument with ease, but throws each one away as he becomes bored with it. Through an unfortunate illness on the part of the orchestra conductor one evening, Farkle discovers that it is the sound and experience of ALL the instruments together which brings him joy, as opposed to the mastery of an individual instrument.
The illustrations by C.E. Payne are amazing in their vibrancy and humor. (They remind me of David Catrow with slightly more realistic human facial features.) The text is extremely exciting for several reasons: (1) the melody and rhythm of the words lends itself to read-alouds; (2) the language, while being the opposite of condescending to young readers, is still challenging in vocabulary with words like “beseeching,” “rhapsodical” and “bombastic”; (3) the text contains multiple original examples of onomonapoeia when describing instruments, which offers an excellent opportunity to teach both that specific literary technique, and as an introduction to language as sound, music, and poetry.
The story of Micawber again sees the same team of author and illustrator relate the story of a squirrel who lives in Central Park and enjoys going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One afternoon he sees an art student copying one of the artworks on the wall. This is the first time it has ever occurred to him to think about how the paintings were created in the first place. Intrigued, he stows away in her satchel and accompanies the young student home. Once she is asleep, Micawber, for the first time, experiments with her paints. Using his tail as a brush, he creates his own masterpiece, ties it up with one of the student’s shoelaces and returns home. Once back in Central Park, he converts the upper floor of a carousel into an art museum for the other animals where he shows his growing collection of original canvases.
The same things that are wonderful and thrilling about Farkle exist here in this story about the visual arts. The vocabulary includes words such as “peregrination” and “viridian”. Payne is just as delightful in his illustrations, particularly the image where the student has discovered her shoe–without its shoelace.
Marsupial Sue and Marsupial Sue presents the Runaway Pancake, I’m a Manatee, Mahalia Mouse Goes to College, I Got Two Dogs are additional works by Lithgow.
The Marsupial Sue books are about a kangaroo that wants to be something MORE than a kangaroo, but after traveling to many other areas and trying the ways of several different animals, she determines that being a kangaroo is EXACTLY who and what she wants to be.
I Got Two Dogs is a simple, delightful rhyme about the author’s two dogs with colorful collage-ish illustrations similar in style to those of Todd Parr. I’m a Manatee is a fun, imaginative tale of a boy and a manatee. It can be used for children who are already familiar with and interested in the manatee, or as an introduction to the animal, as well as the dangers to its existence. In my opinion, Mahalia Mouse is the weakest of all his picture books, but it is still a nice little story–just not anything exceptional.
All of Lithgow’s books come with CDs when sold in hardcover. The author usually sings the text of each story on the CD which is great to use at bedtime or in the car.
Lithgow also has music CDs available, which I use at home with my own children, and for my theatre and dance classes. There is an entire Farkle and Friends CD which includes the story of Farkle as well as other pieces of music highlighting orchestral instruments, styles and sounds.
The CDs On the Sunny Side of the Street and Singin’ in the Bathtub contain Broadway and jazz-style songs for children. Some are children’s songs, some songs have the lyrics altered to be extremely silly and appeal specifically to children (and those of us who love music and are children at heart). They are harder to find in retail outlets, but easy to purchase from amazon.com, etc.
Lithgow’s work is for ANYONE who loves language, stories or the arts. I think they are truly brilliant and stand among some of my very favorite books. I highly recommend his work for independent and read-aloud selections.
May 31, 2010
like John Lithgow, like the premise for the book (cute story, lovely illustrations)... but the language is a poor fit for our almost 4-yr old (it reads like a poem for a 50 yr old). I'm all for expanding the vocabulary whenever possible, but it's written in adult language that could have easily been adapted for kids with a few small changes. editor, please?
June 6, 2011
How cute is this story about a painting squirrel! It has an excellent rhyming storyline that has a sprinkling of some words that I'm a bit embarrassed to admit, I actually didn't know the meaning of, but hey, we can all benefit by having a better vocabulary, children and adults included.
May 14, 2015
Found this at a thrift store and it brought back memories of other John Lithgow books we have read. He has great rhyming in his books. This is another very cute book of his.
May 25, 2015
Another fabulous book from Lithgow. The premise of this book is precious! We always add to our vocabulary with Lithgow's rhyming books.
September 7, 2024
What an incredibly cute book. Way to introduce children to the joy of art through an adorable squirrel, Central Park, and the Met.
January 16, 2013
Mommy's review from 6/6/11 -
This was such a pleasant surprise! I didn't notice the authors name when I found this at the library. I didn't notice it when we got home and read along with the CD. I thought his voice sounded slightly familiar but I still didn't notice his name while listening/reading.
Finally, after finishing the book I happened to turn it over and whose face do I see? John Lithgow's! I'm no huge fan but I've always liked him well enough. I like him so much more now.
Julia and I recently had a string of horrible luck with our library books. We read the rest of the books we took out with this one last week. And they all sucked. Sucked so bad that I was terrified to finally start this. But Micawber is a fantastic story. Lithgow reads it perfectly and I love that we were able to hear him read instead of just hearing my plain old voice with the lacking inflections. ;-)
I'd be surprised if I learned that Lithgow made this up. It has a certain feel to it and I'd lean much more towards this being a family story. Perhaps one he heard growing up?
I love the rhymes, they all fit so perfectly and nothing is forced like readers find so often with children's books. It flows seamlessly. The entire premise is just outstanding.
Enough people have described it that I won't. I'll let my feelings for the book speak alone. I don't think many people will be disappointed with Micawber and I plan on picking up a copy during our next bookstore trip. This is one of the very few children's books that I want to own and keep.
This was such a pleasant surprise! I didn't notice the authors name when I found this at the library. I didn't notice it when we got home and read along with the CD. I thought his voice sounded slightly familiar but I still didn't notice his name while listening/reading.
Finally, after finishing the book I happened to turn it over and whose face do I see? John Lithgow's! I'm no huge fan but I've always liked him well enough. I like him so much more now.
Julia and I recently had a string of horrible luck with our library books. We read the rest of the books we took out with this one last week. And they all sucked. Sucked so bad that I was terrified to finally start this. But Micawber is a fantastic story. Lithgow reads it perfectly and I love that we were able to hear him read instead of just hearing my plain old voice with the lacking inflections. ;-)
I'd be surprised if I learned that Lithgow made this up. It has a certain feel to it and I'd lean much more towards this being a family story. Perhaps one he heard growing up?
I love the rhymes, they all fit so perfectly and nothing is forced like readers find so often with children's books. It flows seamlessly. The entire premise is just outstanding.
Enough people have described it that I won't. I'll let my feelings for the book speak alone. I don't think many people will be disappointed with Micawber and I plan on picking up a copy during our next bookstore trip. This is one of the very few children's books that I want to own and keep.
November 3, 2011
Citation: Micawber, John Lithgow, C.F. Payne (illustrator), (Simon & Schuster, 2002), 40p. Picture Book
Genre: Picture Book – Other/Fantasy
Summary: This story is about a squirrel Micawber) that is inspired by art. He is moved by the art in a museum so much, that he visits every week. He is fascinated watching an artist at work and accompanies her home, unannounced. He is so awestruck in his discovery of color in her supplies that he dares to become an artist himself!
Critique: a. The wonderful illustrations that compliment this tale pale in light of the richness of verbiage and poetic verse.
b. The rhythm of rhyme in the lines and expressions make each verse an enriching experience. The imagery is full and the words seem to dance.
c. This is the one that stirs me the most.
From the box after midnight the stowaway crept,
Stretched his limbs and adjusted his eyes.
And while his beguiler contentedly slept,
He rifled through all her supplies. (p21)
After reading this I’m inspired to use more colorful, descriptive, and loaded language. I can’t remember the last time I’ve used the word limbs instead of arms and legs or beguiler instead of role model. These words reveal and our children need to hear them.
Curriculum connection: This book could be used in K-5 Language arts (vocabulary building/poetry) and Art classes (color, artists, and careers).
Genre: Picture Book – Other/Fantasy
Summary: This story is about a squirrel Micawber) that is inspired by art. He is moved by the art in a museum so much, that he visits every week. He is fascinated watching an artist at work and accompanies her home, unannounced. He is so awestruck in his discovery of color in her supplies that he dares to become an artist himself!
Critique: a. The wonderful illustrations that compliment this tale pale in light of the richness of verbiage and poetic verse.
b. The rhythm of rhyme in the lines and expressions make each verse an enriching experience. The imagery is full and the words seem to dance.
c. This is the one that stirs me the most.
From the box after midnight the stowaway crept,
Stretched his limbs and adjusted his eyes.
And while his beguiler contentedly slept,
He rifled through all her supplies. (p21)
After reading this I’m inspired to use more colorful, descriptive, and loaded language. I can’t remember the last time I’ve used the word limbs instead of arms and legs or beguiler instead of role model. These words reveal and our children need to hear them.
Curriculum connection: This book could be used in K-5 Language arts (vocabulary building/poetry) and Art classes (color, artists, and careers).
May 25, 2011
Micawber is an adventurous squirrel who loves going to the Art Museum and one day ends up hiding in an artists bag. Once he gets to the artists house he starts to snoop around and finds that his tail is the perfect paint brush. After trying out some of the artists paints, he gets his own and paints many paintings. He then turns his home into an art gallery for all of his animal friends to admire.
Great Features: Very colorful illustrations
Themes/Topics: Squirrels, art, colors
Red Flag: He does use some names of colors that I've never even heard of before so children definitely won't understand them
Opportunity for Interaction: Children can act like a squirrel, by making small squeeking noises and acting like they have big bushy tails. They can also pretend they are painting a picture while Micawber is. A fun activity to do is have the children tell the storyteller what colors Micawber is using.
Great Features: Very colorful illustrations
Themes/Topics: Squirrels, art, colors
Red Flag: He does use some names of colors that I've never even heard of before so children definitely won't understand them
Opportunity for Interaction: Children can act like a squirrel, by making small squeeking noises and acting like they have big bushy tails. They can also pretend they are painting a picture while Micawber is. A fun activity to do is have the children tell the storyteller what colors Micawber is using.
September 3, 2008
Another of the first books that I purchased for my godson, John Lithgow's Micawber tells the story of a squirrel who loves art. Clearly set in Central Park with a view in to the Met, Micawber loves the paintings and art that he can see in the museum... so much so, that it inspires him to create art of his own. By stealing a few art supplies and using his tail as a brush, Micawber paints and opens his own treetop gallery. Absolutely adorable. Great illustrations and the telling includes a good vocabulary for the kids always looking to learn more. Of course, as a result, my godson stopped calling squirrels "squirrels" and referred to them exclusively as Micawbers, asserting that he could see the bit of paint at the end of their tails.
August 13, 2012
Adorable book about an art-loving squirrel. The more politically-minded adult in the room might worry about the consent issues involved with spying on a lady and stowing away in her bookbag, and then stealing her paints...but it's a freaking squirrel, so those people need to de-clutch their pearls and calm down.
Anyway, it is a most squee-worthy book! There are clever rhymes by an author that clearly knows how to use them and wonderful, unusual, fun-to-say words. Probably a good idea to preview this book with children before actually reading it to brace kids for the sheer number of cool new words. Also, "SQUEEEE! SQUIRREL!"
Anyway, it is a most squee-worthy book! There are clever rhymes by an author that clearly knows how to use them and wonderful, unusual, fun-to-say words. Probably a good idea to preview this book with children before actually reading it to brace kids for the sheer number of cool new words. Also, "SQUEEEE! SQUIRREL!"
November 30, 2015
Micawber is a great squirrel - he travels from his home in the park to the art museum every day to see the wonderful painting. But once he realizes that he can paint! Well, then off he goes and creates many works of art. The story was very cute - and the fold out of his studio/museum was really great.
The only down side is that you better know your great artists and how to pronounce their names. There's a few in there that I stumbled over and I got weird looks from little man for it.
- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2015/...
The only down side is that you better know your great artists and how to pronounce their names. There's a few in there that I stumbled over and I got weird looks from little man for it.
- See more at: http://www.hotofftheshelves.com/2015/...
Want to read
April 30, 2013"An aspiring squirrel artist who paints with his tail–what’s not to love? Your wannabe artists will get a kick out of following the rather talented Micawber and his artistic endeavors. This is another book that is best read aloud to your kids, as there are a few vocabulary words in here that you might have to explain to your little ones. If you’re looking for more books in Lithgow’s repertoire, we also recommend The Remarkable Farkle McBride, especially if you’ve got a budding musician in your family. Best for: Ages 4 and up"
November 11, 2013
Lots of rhyme and rhythm that make it fun to read and listen to! The detailed illustrations, subject matter, unusual story, and punchline make it appealing for many ages.
I use it because it describes how someone discovers their passion (in this case a squirrel), how they work towards their goals, and finally reap their reward and celebrate in the end. It's very upbeat and positive.
It's a good book for shared reading K-5.
I use it because it describes how someone discovers their passion (in this case a squirrel), how they work towards their goals, and finally reap their reward and celebrate in the end. It's very upbeat and positive.
It's a good book for shared reading K-5.
January 6, 2010
This is a childrens picture book with an audio cd of the book read by the author. I love this book. It is a wonderfully imaginative story about a squirrel who loves art. The reading by John Lithgow is fantastic and adds so much to the story. I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you have children or not.
March 24, 2013
a squirrel loves art and finds an imaginative way to express himself. the rhyming add to the enjoyment of Lithgow's story and wonderful illustrations. some new words to learn along the way as well. a fun way to experience some art, learn about different colors, and enjoy the scenery in Central Park.
June 20, 2016
A new favorite by Lithgow! He's very talented in his word rhyming with big words and even stranger names. Of course, some of these would be difficult for a child to pronounce, but it's certainly fun as an adult to read it to my son.
Loved the pictures too though the depiction of the woman was a little strange.
Loved the pictures too though the depiction of the woman was a little strange.
April 28, 2009
Very cute book about a squirrel who becomes an amazing painter. Great for the rhyme and vocabulary! Lithgow's other book Mahalia Mouse Goes to College is even better. I need to look at all of his books.
January 10, 2013
This is a cute little tale about a squirrel named Micawber who lives in the top of a carousel in New York City and loves art. My 6 y/o is a little artist, too, and loved the pictures that Micawber painted and how he painted. Fun to share with him!
April 17, 2013
This was a cute story and the illustrations were great as they broke the boundaries of a typical page and spread throughout both pages. Additionally, the pop open part at the end of the book was a nice surprise.
February 3, 2008
Delightful kid's book!
October 5, 2008
brenna loved it
October 7, 2008
animals - squirrel; art/artists; creativity
April 11, 2015
a painting squirrel? ugh, how cute!
Read
April 10, 2009fun book about art 5+
April 30, 2009
I'm a pushover for the couplet. I love the rhyme!
April 22, 2010
I loved this rhyming picture book about a squirrel who loves to go to the Metropolitan and look at art, and one day takes up a paint brush himself and does his own rendition of the classics.
July 21, 2009
You have to love a children's book about a squirrel who loves art. When you have to look up a word to make sure you know what it means...that's terrific! (peregrination)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews