The Museum Lives in Me
An eye-catching, inspirational picture book, The Museum Lives in Me is a valuable reminder of art’s relevance to people’s everyday lives.
Victoria Scott Miller’s energetic picture book The Museum Lives in Me tags along on a class field trip to an art museum.
Miss Edmonia is a passionate teacher. She enjoys creating uplifting mnemonics about her students’ positive traits. On the day of the field trip, it is she who leads the class through the museum park.
The class visits the twentieth- and twenty-first-century galleries, paying special attention to paintings by Mickalene Thomas and Romare Bearden, and to a mirrored box installation by Yayoi Kusama. Later, the students, who were each tasked with thinking about what trait looking at such work could inspire in them, share what they’ve learned, with answers ranging from curiosity to kindness. The trip concludes with an encouraging reminder that museums belong to everyone.
The verbose text includes Miss Edmonia’s practical instructions, and describes the actions that the group takes as they progress throughout the museum; much of this is also made clear by the illustrations, though. Miss Edmonia’s dialogue, too, often rhymes in too deliberate ways. Still, the story is a warm means for engaging children who might feel, as one boy expresses, that “museums are boring.” It’s also an effective celebration of art’s ability to engage people’s emotions, introducing a specific collection while remaining broad enough to encompass the similar experiences of others.
The book’s invigorating illustrations depict a diverse group. Their images recreate both the museum pieces and grounds, also adding beautiful color- and light-infused backdrops. Occasional ribbons enhance the children’s sense of exploration. Cheerful character designs reveal the children’s distinctive personalities, too, from one girl’s delightful pattern-mixing outfit and winged sneakers to another boy’s aqua headphones.
An eye-catching, inspirational picture book, The Museum Lives in Me is a valuable reminder of art’s relevance to people’s everyday lives.
Reviewed by
Karen Rigby
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
