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Morris the Artist
You’re invited to a birthday party!
It’s Benjamin’s birthday. The present Morris brings to give Benjamin is what Morris would like to get himself, and he refuses to hand it over. But Morris can’t have fun at a party while he’s holding on to a package. The longer he holds it, the bigger it seems to get. It grows into one enormous nuisance, and the only way to get rid of it is to open it up. Morris’s present turns out to be something marvelous for everyone to do.
With the colorful Morris and the beautiful and funny pictures, Lore Segal and Boris Kulikov have made a birthday party that young readers will want to come to again and again.
It’s Benjamin’s birthday. The present Morris brings to give Benjamin is what Morris would like to get himself, and he refuses to hand it over. But Morris can’t have fun at a party while he’s holding on to a package. The longer he holds it, the bigger it seems to get. It grows into one enormous nuisance, and the only way to get rid of it is to open it up. Morris’s present turns out to be something marvelous for everyone to do.
With the colorful Morris and the beautiful and funny pictures, Lore Segal and Boris Kulikov have made a birthday party that young readers will want to come to again and again.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Lore Segal
39 books145 followersLore Vailer Segal was an Austrian-American novelist, translator, teacher, short story writer, and author of children's books. Her novel Shakespeare's Kitchen was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 3, 2019
Morris loved to paint, so much that he didn't want to go with his mother to buy a birthday present for his friend, Benjamin. He didn't want to buy what his mother thought Benjamin would like so he picked out something he likes himself and went to the party. Once there he didn't want to give the present away. Morris found it was becoming a nuisance when the other children were playing with Benjamin and his new toys. Great illustrations. The underlying message is that being selfish can get in the way of enjoying life.
June 21, 2022
I'm always attracted to quirky artwork and, apparently, at least one of my kids is too. Unfortunately, it's tough to find quirky artwork and a good story.
Morris reluctantly joins his mother to shop for a birthday present for another boy. Then, at the party, Morris holds onto the present rather than let the boy unwrap it. The present grows and grows in Morris's hands, seemingly a metaphor for guilt or insecurity(?), but that situation isn't acknowledged in the text, leading me to wonder if it was the addition of the artist. Eventually, Morris hands over the present and it turns out to be paints. The other kids don't understand why he wouldn't share, but when Morris starts painting, they all join in. Leading to an abrupt ending without a clear message.
Honestly, I spent most of the book wondering what the writer was thinking.
Morris reluctantly joins his mother to shop for a birthday present for another boy. Then, at the party, Morris holds onto the present rather than let the boy unwrap it. The present grows and grows in Morris's hands, seemingly a metaphor for guilt or insecurity(?), but that situation isn't acknowledged in the text, leading me to wonder if it was the addition of the artist. Eventually, Morris hands over the present and it turns out to be paints. The other kids don't understand why he wouldn't share, but when Morris starts painting, they all join in. Leading to an abrupt ending without a clear message.
Honestly, I spent most of the book wondering what the writer was thinking.
April 26, 2022
My daughter found the artwork creepy and the title character to be extremely unlikable.
September 29, 2023
Cute story. The Boris Kulikov illustrations are great.
October 4, 2010
One of the worst childrens books ever. I'll say that the illustrations are fine but the story really blows. The ending is simply horrible and makes absolutely no sense. Maybe I just didn't "get it".
At first the lesson is right there in the open for everyone to see and I liked how the kid, Morris, didn't immediately "do right". Instead, he kept doing "wrong" and saw the "consequences" (sorry for all the quotations - they're needed) of his choices. And then. Indeed. We come to the part where we find the b-day kid got all of the gifts Morris' Mother has suggested from the other kids, got paint from Morris and Morris opens this kids paint (that's worth a fight right there if you ask me) and starts painting! Himself! He paints a picture of HIMSELF! For some odd reason the other kids, who were just saying what a lame present paint is, all want to paint a picture of themselves. Right. So they all stop what they're doing and then, for the grand finale, Morris paints big suns on the b-day kids knees. Whopdee-fucking-do.
At first the lesson is right there in the open for everyone to see and I liked how the kid, Morris, didn't immediately "do right". Instead, he kept doing "wrong" and saw the "consequences" (sorry for all the quotations - they're needed) of his choices. And then. Indeed. We come to the part where we find the b-day kid got all of the gifts Morris' Mother has suggested from the other kids, got paint from Morris and Morris opens this kids paint (that's worth a fight right there if you ask me) and starts painting! Himself! He paints a picture of HIMSELF! For some odd reason the other kids, who were just saying what a lame present paint is, all want to paint a picture of themselves. Right. So they all stop what they're doing and then, for the grand finale, Morris paints big suns on the b-day kids knees. Whopdee-fucking-do.
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September 13, 2016Didn't like it. My kids didn't like it.
February 11, 2016
A really unique book about a little boy who doesn't really want to go to his friend's birthday party to play - he wants to paint. And he doesn't really want to give his friend the gift he brought. But as his friend and the other children play with toys, the present Morris won't let go of becomes bigger and more of a burden.
Excellent illustrations - very unique.
Excellent illustrations - very unique.
September 10, 2016
A weird book that leaves you saying aloud, "What?!" If you assume the author forgot to make a point or wrap up the story, you'll think less of it. If you assume there's implied meaning to discuss or ponder, you might enjoy it.
August 13, 2016
Love the illustrations, too. Odd and comforting. Fan of Segal. Found this after reading Mole.
April 19, 2014
"My favorite is when Morris painted himself."
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews