Reviewing an ARC (Advanced Review Copy) about Mr. Owliver's job as a nightwatchman for Animaltown Art Museum was just fun...fun...fun. I immediately fell in love with it. The concept is adorable! The writing is sweet and the watercolor style illustrations are delightfully hilarious and at the same time very intricate. I love the museum crew. In all honesty, I wanted to spend more time at the museum and view more original paintings being reworked. And I'm sure children will feel the same way.

At 40 pages, it is a good length for this type of childrens picture book. It will be a must read for story time as kids can sit back and and watch as Mr. Owliver walks throughout the museum. But, be advised you may hear an abundance of laughter. This book will also be excellent for classroom discussions on the various masterpieces. The back of the book does provide the necessary details on the original works of art. I highly recommend this book.

An outstandingly beautiful book!! The new "takes" on classical paintings are worth the price, and more!! Such a cute idea for a book. Kids will love it, but so will their parents! Wonderful!!

This is a great book to use to introduce art masterpieces to young children.

I thought that this was quite a fun book, the images were lovely and Mr Owliver is a real character, the story was really captivity and hopefully it will inspire younger children to look more in to art and the original images - 4 stars

This children's book was a delight and is one of those books bound to amuse adults who know the actual paintings featured in it and who will laugh at the clever names that Bracken has come up with for a host of famous painters and their masterpieces. A sweet and gentle tale, it's a bit on the long side as most picture books go (40 pages) but will captivate early readers with its illustrations.

That was a fun read! My daughter loved the animals and the birthday party (she's suddenly a big birthday fan). I enjoyed the art jokes. I hope the author writes more of these.

I received a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

This book was simply beautiful. I loved following Mr. Owliver through his job as night watch owl at the museum. The names of the art and the fact that they were all based on real pieces was great. It was even better when I got to the end and saw that the author gave credit (and apologies) to the real artists, giving their real names and a bit more information. I love that Mr. Owliver loves the paintings like they are his real friends. The illustrations are beautiful and very detailed. Just a fun book overall.

Will add review to goodreads closer to publication.

This book was adorable. Mr. Owliver is a night guard at the Animaltown Museum. He spends his nights talking to the people in the paintings. On his birthday, the museum has a very special surprise. What I like most about this book, is how even the paintings take on animal characteristics, such as the Mona Lizard, or Piggy (instead of Pinkie). The illustrations are colorful, and fun. Plus at the back of the book there is snippets about each real painting, and a timeline of art styles. A very artful book, for a very artful child.

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A really short sweet story about an owl named Owliver who works at a museum and watches over all of the artwork at night.

Mr. Owliver has a scare when the characters suddenly disappear from their painting! Where did they go!
The characters have a great surprise in store!
Written well, with lovely illustrations.
I gave 4 stars for this book, as my 6-year-old did struggle with some of the words. He reads above his level, but perhaps this story is meant for older children or meant for parents to read it with their children.

ARC copy requested for review....In nutshell a very delightful, and colourful with a though of humor trip through the history of art with Mr. Owliver. Being an art lover myself, I immensely love it especially the watercolour style illustrations, all the "animal-fied"works of arts and Mr. Owliver's enthusiasm for art in general. All ending in nice, delightful surprise Birthday party. I could see this book being being used to get kids interested in art as an introduction. I like also the actual info of the master pieces being "animal-fied" and general history of art movements is included.

Mr. Owliver was a fun book introducing children to art and artists in a unique and silly way. The experiences Mr. Owliver has with each painting is a way for children to learn how to experience art themselves. In the end I would have liked to see the real art and artists referenced as opposed to the ones created after them in the story.

Excellent book like the quiz and fact page at the end of the book.
Beautiful illustrations that you can use for follow up work,a book that can be used before a visit to an art gallery and mske your own worksheets.
A must for a classroom or school library and slso home use.

3.5 stars.

A cute picture book that introduces kids to art, while providing a bit of a mystery. Mr. Owliver is the night guard at the art museum and loves looking at the artwork while he patrols the halls. But one night, the creatures in the paintings all disappear! Mr. Owliver is in for a surprise though when he finds out what happened to them all.

I was drawn to this because the blurb promised written and visual puns on famous paintings and artists, and I wasn’t disappointed. Since Mr. Owliver lives in a world that is inhabited entirely by animals, all the humans in famous paintings, like the Mona Lisa and American Gothic have been replaced by animals and have been painted by animal artists, so there are an abundance of punny opportunities.

The reason I rounded down to 3 stars was because the resolution to the reason why all the animals went missing from the paintings was anticlimactic in my view. This was more a matter of personal preference though, and it didn’t cause me to dislike the book–I just was sort of disappointed that something more creative didn’t happen.

I did love that the book concluded with a brief overview of all the famous paintings referenced, giving the real names and artists, a bit about the painting, and a timeline of artistic styles covered. This was awesome to see, as I know many books may not include this type of information. Props to the author for including this!!

This would be a fun book to use in art classes to introduce kids to famous paintings and artists, as well as for units/lessons focusing on word play/puns and problem solving.

http://www.schifferbooks.com/mr-owliver-magic-at-the-museum-6333.html

The story of this book is Mr. Owliver and what happens during his night shifts at the Animaltown Art Museum. The author of this book attempts to introduce masterpieces of art to kids of young age. Illustrations are beautiful and animal substitutions in paintings is indigenous. The story felt a little too flat for me given that the content is targeting kids of pre-K to 1st grade.

This is such a fun children's book! Mr Owliver serves as the night watchman at the museum. His museum seems to hold nearly all the treasured art in the world. It's his job to protect these wonderful pieces, but he has an emergency on his hands when the characters depicted disappear from their frames.

I truly enjoyed all the "play on words" changes to the artists' names. The mystery of where the characters have gone is a treat. The illustrations are detailed but humorous as animals are substituted for the original subjects. It was informative to have the references for the artwork recognized included in the title.

I loved the way that Bracken brings together the art and her storyline with animal characters. "George Sir Rat"? Wonderful! Just like the sweet night watch-owl that walks the halls nightly of the Animaltown Art Museum protecting the masterpieces and befriending those that live within the works of art.

What happens when his birthday falls on a night he has to work?

What better job for an owl than to be a night watchman! Mr. Owliver is fortunate to work at the art museum protecting the priceless masterpieces. During his nightly rounds he greets the paintings as his best friends. When he sits down to have lunch with his favorite, Miss Wren, it just tugs at my heart. As the art comes alive to celebrate Mr. Owliver's birthday you feel his happiness that they are there with him.

I loved this book and the hilarious and fun interpretations of some of my favorite works of art. The illustrations do not overshadow the story of friendship. A great way to introduce significant works of art to children, using the fun versions as a comparison to their origionals.

As an art lover who takes her kids regularly to our local art galleries this book has made my MUST HAVE list. The story is really cute and told well so that it captured my daughters’ attention. They loved that it was full of animal being depicted in positions and actions normally reserved for humans. What really made this stand out is how the author uses well-known pieces of work depicted throughout her museum only animals are in the place of humans. It’s an absolutely indigenous way to introduce art to the young to peak their interest then show them the real pieces the book is based upon. At the end of the story you are treated to a small history lesson of each of the pieces which includes the real title, artist and time period. This was such an imaginative and unique work, it inspired my daughters to want to create their own version of popular pieces for a summer project.

I love art and hence the museum and who doesn't like magic.
Mr.Owliver's magic at the museum has a funny take on masterpieces of art by many masters. 'Mona Lizard', Henry catisse.
This book works both for adults as well as kids. Adults have to recognize the original names of the paintings and the painters. Kids just have to have fun and laugh at all the funny paintings.
Excellently executed paintings.
Look up the original paintings, put them side by side and rate which you like better.
Ask your kid to draw their interpretation of the masterpiece they like.
The book is packed with a beautiful surprise at the end. And thats where things get a bit technical too with the timeline and a name to the style of paintings.