Matthew'un Rüyası

by Leo Lionni

Traditional Chinese edition of Matthew's Dream by Caldecott winner Leo Lionni. In Chinese. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 highly acclaimed children's books. He received the 1984 American Institute of Graphic Arts Gold Medal and was a four-time Caldecott Honor Winner--for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. Leo Lionni died in October of 1999 at his home in Tuscany, Italy, at the age of 89.

Leo Lionni has gained international renown for his paintings, graphic designs, illustrations, and sculpture, as well as for his books for children. He was born in Holland in 1910 of Dutch parents, and although his education did not include formal art courses (in fact, he has a doctorate in economics from the University of Genoa), he spent much of his free time as a child in Amsterdam's museums, teaching himself to draw.

Lionni's business training gradually receded into the background as his interest in art and design grew. Having settled in Milan soon after his marriage in 1931, he started off by writing about European architecture for a local magazine. It was there that he met the contacts who were to give him a start as a professional graphic designer. When he moved to America in 1939, Lionni was hired by a Philadelphia advertising agency as art director. Later he became design director for the Olivetti Corporation of America, and then art director for Fortune magazine. At the same time, his reputation as an artist flourished as he began to exhibit his paintings and drawings in galleries from New York to Japan.

Lionni launched his career as an author/illustrator of books for children in 1959. Originally developed from a story he had improvised for his grandchildren during a dull train ride, Little Blue and Little Yellow was the first of what is now a long list of children's picture books, including four Caldecott Honor Books.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leo uses his mice to help explain and explore the world of modern art. Matthew’s parents want him to be a doctor one day, but Matthew doesn’t know what he wants to be. One day he goes to a museum and looks at the art and falls in love with it and Nicoletta. He knows he wants to be an artist. So, he grows up to be a famous artist. Simple and easy as that.

The use of colors in the story is nice. I like the painting and exposing kids to modern art, but the story is simplistic and I didn’t connect too much to it. Ehh was my feeling.

The nephew felt much the same way. He has learned a little about modern art by now, so that didn’t surprise him or confuse him. He didn’t think the mice were very cute here and the story was sort of boring. People looking at paintings - big deal, he said. He gave this 1 stars.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this story being told on the BBC Schools programme Words and Pictures, it made me want to read the book & I was Not disappointed. It's not a common subject for children's fiction (though there are a few out there). It's also quite unique in its style of illustration.

Matthew is a mouse and lives in a drab attic with his parents. He knows he wants to so something special with his life. And his class visit to a museum gives him the inspiration he needs to work it out - he wants to be a painter.

The pictures are key to the book, rather than the story. It's full of quite beautiful and different paintings, covering many different genres (of which I have very little knowledge).

[Kirstin Kemppainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew went to a museum and fell in love with artwork. He had a big dream to become a painter. He worked hard and his dream came true! Loved this book and the illustrations, Leo Lionni is always a great choice.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way cute. Good things come when we live what is in our hearts...to live our dreams.

[Amber Goebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a mouse named Matthew who lives in a dusty old attic with his parents. They don't have much but they want a better life for Matthew. He doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up but he knows he wants "to see the world." One day when Matthew's class visits an art museum, his whole life is changed. He is in awe of the artwork and meets another little mouse named Nicoletta who shares his love for the paintings. Matthew has a dream that night that he and Nicoletta were in a fantastic painting and he had never been so happy. When he awoke, he told his parents he knew what he wanted to do, become a painter! He did and he married Nicoletta, reprising one of Lionni's recurring themes of finding friendship and love with another who understands you. Lionni's collage illustrations are some of my favorites in Matthew's Dream. I love the depth and texture of the mice made of paper pieces and the newspaper and brown paper that pop out from the large white spaces of each page and the contrast with the bright paint choices that he uses for the art and dream scenes. Lionni created Matthew and the other mice in a way that their eyes, mouths, and posture portray their emotions.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it is about an average mouse that lives in the attic and his dreams of being a famous artist and having his paintings hung in a museum. When he wakes up from his dream he decides to make his dream a reality and begins to paint. This could be an inspirational read for children. They sometimes believe they cannot do something or that they want to do it but feel they are not good enough to try. Children need inspirational stories to break down those "I can't do it" barriers.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think my favorite part of this book was all the mice artwork. The story was pretty simple, but still fairly enjoyable. I would recommend if you were already a fan of Leo Lionni.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lionni understands art, and how children need art in their lives...even when the children are mice. Like Matthew. His parents want him to be famous and rich. HE wants to be happy. He discovers that what makes him happy is art...oh, and Nicolette, too.

Gentle and freeing. This lets children find their dream...and to think about making art.

[Irini 이리니 Thalassinou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matthew Mouse's family is very poor. Mother and Father mouse hope their child will grow up to be a doctor so that they can eat Parmesan cheese all of the time. When they ask Matthew what he would like to be when he grows up, Matthew says he wants to see the world.

Matthew's school class visits an art museum. He sees much of the world in the museum and he meets Nicolette. That night Matthew has a dream. In the dream he is holding hands with Nicolette and surrounded by beautiful artwork. When he wakes up he is so sad that his tears make his surroundings look like a lovely painting. Matthew decides he's going to be an artist!

After awhile Matthews art becomes famous and other mice pay lots of money for it. He lives happily ever after. Oh, and he marries Nicolette.

A beautiful Lionni book.

[Matin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think it had a really positive message that not just young kids, but everyone can benefit from. Matthews dream is about a young mouse that doesn't know what he wants to be. He goes on a trip to the museum to look at all the art they have and makes a few friends along the way. After his visit to the museum, he has a dream about the girl he met there. After waking up from his dream, he realizes that his true passion and love is painting and that he wants to become a painter. He decides to follow his dreams and doing so leads him to fame. This would be a book I would read aloud in class. I think that it would be a good book to demonstrate to kids that following their dreams and working hard can get them really far. If they find something they truly love and are passionate about they will be able to make their dreams a reality.

[Christina Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Matthew’s class visits the local museum, he finds the answer to that age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grown up?” Having found his muse, the protagonist sees his world through the eyes of an artist from that moment on. Lionni’s delightful mixed media collages envision mouse-centric works of art that mimic icons of fine art. Matthew’s Dream can be used to introduce students to the beauty of portraits, landscapes, still lifes, impressionism, and cubism as well as the works of Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Joan Miró. At the secondary level, Lionni’s simple tale serves as an entrée to art-inspired historical fiction.

[Tasneem Zafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lil Matthew the mouse did not know what he's going to be in the future. He visits the museum with his friends and gazes at the paintings. He sees beautiful Nicolette and finally decides he wants to become a painter and marry beautiful Nicolette. He looks at the gray dreariness of his Attic corner from another perspective and works hard on his paintings and becomes famous and eventually marries Nicolette.

Beautifully illustrated with collage.
The font size is a bit small it kinda hurts the eyes!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may have gotten this when it was new but I just discovered it again unpacking boxes from home. A nice story about a poor mouse who wants to travel the world then goes to a museum and has a zany dream about modern art. After the dream he decides to become a famous painter and sells his artwork to other mice. I think my Aunt and Uncle acquired the book for me since my name was in the title. The Joys of having a common Christian name.

[Ashley]

The book Matthew's Dream is about a little mouse who is very poor and his parents want him to be a doctor. Instead Matthew dreams of being a great artist and in the end "he did." The artwork in this book is outstanding and would be a great book for PK-3rd grade on teaching chidlren it is okay to dream and aim to reach their dreams in what they want to be.

[Heather Ligman · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book lends itself well to open a discussion about what we want to do with our lives. it is a great book to have a written dialogue with a child. I think children will enjoy this book but I rated it a 3 because I've seen better books in these areas and was not overly impressed with this book in particular.

[Jaci Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fantasy book about following your dreams. The mice are poor but they want something more for their son Matthew. He doesn’t know what he wants but after visiting the museum he discovers he wants to be an artist. He follows his dream and becomes an artist. Good for ages 3-9. Interesting illustrations very unique use of color and texture. Could be used in a text set for following dreams.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute story! You just wouldn't expect a mouse who lives in an attic to visit a museum, much less be so attracted to it that he becomes an artist! Love it! :) The collage illustrations in this book are fun, and the use of color adds to richness of this children's book.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for the beginning of the school year. What are your hopes and dreams? What do you see yourself doing someday?
Matthew did not have a lot but he did have a big dream and guess what! He did it!

[Sophia Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matthew's Dream is a story about a mouse who seeks to find out his dream--what he should be. His parents are giving him ideas of what he should be, but Matthew wants to find out for himself. And after a trip to the museum, abd runnign into a girl, he quickly knew.

[Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little mouse dreams of seeing the world and finds the world opens up to him after a school trip to a museum. Inspired by the ability of art to showcase the world and convey a world view, our little mouse finds his calling to become an artist and fulfill his dream.

[Melissa Housholder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew has to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. Once he decides he doesn't let anything stand in his way. Good book for teaching about holding onto your dreams. Colorful simple illustrations, good story.

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christmas present from 1992. I must've expressed some artistic desire or ability because it's about a mouse who goes to an art gallery and decides to become an artist. Cute and colourful collage and acrylics make for a nice read.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can dream it, believe in it and yourself, you can do whatever it is you want to do. Matthew's Dream is a picture book full of an artist's dream, making colors come alive, for all to see.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matthew's Dream
Lionni, Leo
cut out picture story about a mouse, this is an art book that helps children learn to tell a story though art

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, now I have to read all of his books! I have only read this one and Frederic. Going to have to get these for Olivia, too, when she is just a little older!

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Routine Lionni.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a lovely story about a mouse who dares to dream. When he does, his life's course takes shape.

[Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a Leo Lionni book that does't give me the concern. Very nifty.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lionni's fables are reliably wonderful. The only quibble I might have w/ this one is that it would have been cool if Matthew had taken those scraps heaped in the corner of the nest and made an art collage with them, a la' Eric Carle or up-cyclers. But he didn't even consider sculpting or anything, rather, he immediately settled on being a painter. I'm not an artist, but I'm pretty sure most work with a variety of mediums while learning the craft and exploring their dreams. Iow, this was just a bit too facile.