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Visiting Museums through Books and in Person*

December 3rd, 2012
Liz · Staff Recommendations

Reading books about museums can be fun preparation for your little ones before actually stepping foot in the eclectic Museum of Natural History or the hallowed halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Or perhaps you are looking for an unusually beautifully illustrated book or simply an exciting story about museums. Books about museums are as varied as museums themselves!

Maisy Goes to the Museum by Lucy CousinsMaisy Goes to the Museum is the perfect introduction for a toddler/preschooler who has never been to a museum before. In her clear bold illustrations Lucy Cousins showcases a great amalgam of all different types of exhibits whether they be dinosaur skeletons, paintings, vehicles, or toys. She even covers the museum cafeteria and children’s section where Maisy and her friends play dress-up.

Seen Art? by Jon ScieszkaFor the seasoned young art museum visitor Seen Art?is a fun read filled with word-play and lots of reproductions of famous Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)paintings. Jon Scieszka’s main character is looking for his friend named Art outside of MOMA but instead at first ends up on a whirlwind tour of the best of what MOMA has to offer: art, with a lower-case “A.”

Isabelle and the Angel by Thierry MagnierIsabelle the pig’s passions in life are painting with strawberry jam and pink cake and going to the art museum to admire her favorite painting. Imagine her surprise when the angel in said painting comes to life! The sumptuous illustrations envelop the reader and warm the heart.

Can You Find It? by Judith CressyFor a more interactive reading experience try Can You Find It? It’s an “I Spy” book of sorts featuring a range of art work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Can you find the 2 bowls of grapes in an ancient Egyptian mural or 3 cows in a 16th century Dutch painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder? No? Don’t worry, the answers are in the back of the book!

Prudy’s Problem and How She Solved It by Carey Armstrong-EllisAll kids like to collect things whether they be stuffed animals, bottle caps, or beautiful leaves. So does Prudy, the star of Prudy’s Problem and How She Solved It. Her collections eventually start to take over her room and finally explode to all corners of the world. The reader sees Prudy’s stuff in the desert, the North Pole and even outer space! Prudy regroups, visits lots of museums around the world and eventually opens a museum of her own. A comedic bedtime read to inspire your child’s dreams!

Here are some other noteworthy books featuring museums that you can find at the library:

*Currently you can visit The American Museum of Natural History for free and get two tickets for the price of one for The Stepping Stones Museum for Children with your Harrison/Purchase library card. Coming soon will be free tickets to the Guggenheim, the Intrepid, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and The Museum of the City of New York. Details can be found here!

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