Matthew's Dream - by Leo Lionni (Paperback)

About the Book

Lionni's widely praised fable about how art can change the way we see the world is now available in paperback. Matthew's parents hope he will become a doctor, but a trip to the museum inspires the young mouse to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. Full color.

Book Synopsis

A cleverly told and beautifully illustrated tale of self-discovery from four-time Caldecott Honor winner Leo Lionni.

Matthew the mouse lives in a dreary corner of a dusty attic. But a trip to the museum helps him to see his surroundings in a new way. With brush in paw, Matthew sets out to paint "the shapes and colors of joy."

Review Quotes

"A classy, classic fable . . . by an illustrator who, like Matthew, paints canvases 'filled with the shapes and colors of joy.'"--School Library Journal (Starred Review)

"Inviting, brilliant pages . . . offer a gentle introduction to the missions of art and the artist."--The Horn Book Magazine

About the Author

Leo Lionni, an internationally known designer, illustrator, and graphic artist, was born in Holland and lived in Italy until he came to the United States in 1939. He was the recipient of the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was honored posthumously in 2007 with the Society of Illustrators' Lifetime Achievement Award. His picture books are distinguished by their enduring moral themes, graphic simplicity and brilliant use of collage, and include four Caldecott Honor Books: Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Hailed as "a master of the simple fable" by the Chicago Tribune, he died in 1999 at the age of 89.