Seen Art?

Scieszka, Jon & Smith, Lane (Illustrator). Seen Art? Penguin Young Readers Group, 2005. ISBN 0-670-05986-2

Plot

While he searches for his friend named Art, a boy learns the secret code word "MOMA." The boy encounters a lady on the street, a museum security guard, a lady in the museum lobby, a little man, a girl, a painter, and many other people eager to share their enthusiasm for art. The boy does not find his friend named Art, but as he searches he is treated to a tour of great works from New York's Museum of Modern Art. After contemplating Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, the boy enjoys tomato soup in the museum café. He continues his search for Art and eventually finds himself back in the museum lobby. The lady in the museum lobby asks him, "Did you find art?" The boy smiles then emphatically replies, "YES." He walks out of the museum and meets his friend, Art. The boy's eyes have been opened to a new vision of art. A passing stranger asks, "MOMA?" The boy confidently directs him to the museum.

Critical Evaluation

As they so often do, Scieszka and Smith have crafted a simple yet playfully-worded story and delightful illustrations. The result is a remarkable tour of modern art. The secret password, "MOMA," and the play on words (Art vs. art) invite the reader to join the adventure and follow along while the boy searches for his friend. As the boy moves from room to room in the museum, the story progresses from page to page. The story truly feels like a walk through the lobby, galleries, and 64 of the major works housed in the Museum of Modern Art. Works that are included range from Monet's oil painting Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond (1920) to Dorothea Lange's photograph Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California (1936) and the Arthur Young Bell Helicopter, Inc.'s Bell-47D1 Helicopter, designed by a man who was a painter and a poet. Furniture, sculpture, household objects, and objects which defy categorization challenge the boy to see that art is everywhere and everything is art.

Annotations

A boy has an eye-opening walk through the galleries of New York's Museum of Modern Art. Along the way he meets people and encounters works of art which challenge him to open his mind to a new vision and understanding of art.

Author and Illustrator

Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith have collaborated on a number of books. Their work has a humorous sensibility and unique visual appeal. Favorite titles of children and adults include The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Science Verse, and Math Curse.

Genre

Fiction – Art appreciation

Curriculum Ties

English Language Arts - expressive character dialog and use of puns.

Visual arts – valuing and interpreting art.

Booktalk Ideas

Let's take a walk down Fifty-third street in Manhattan, New York. What might we see?

Who is Art? What is art? What do you think?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Grade 3 (age 8) and up.

Challenge Issues and Defense

The only thing that might put off some readers is the style of the book which is pure Scieszka and Smith. Some people don't like modern art either.

Why is it here?

I have yet to find a child who did not enjoy a book by this author and illustrator. This was to me an unfamiliar title I wanted to get to know.