An eye-opening introduction for children to the work of artist Joseph Cornell, who created enchanting shadow boxes, begins, “If you had lived on Utopia Parkway not so long ago ...” It goes on to describe what a child walking by Mr. Cornell’s house might have seen, even as she or he went unseen: “Mr. Cornell wouldn’t have noticed you looking in. He saw mostly dreams and memories, and he filled his boxes with them.” Jeanette Winter deftly incorporates factual elements of Cornell’s life, as well as things he pondered and imagined that inspired his art, into a quietly captivating narrative. Despite the text’s brevity, Winter also weaves in small, child–friendly details, like Cornell’s love for sweets, and his delight in sharing his dream boxes with children. Her stylized art emphasizes small scenes and individual elements suggestive of the shadow boxes. An author’s note with black-and-white photographs further grounds the narrative in details of Cornell’s life and his desire to share his work, especially with children. (Ages 5–9)

Children young and old will delight in the artistic splendor of this illustrated nonfiction tale about artist Joseph Cornell, from celebrated picture book biographer Jeanette Winter.

Joseph Cornell loved to draw and paint and collect things. With these drawings and paintings and collected treasures, he made marvelous shadowboxes—wonderlands covered in glass. And who did he most like to share them with? Children, of course. For they noticed all the details and took in all the magic Mr. Cornell had created.

In this inspiring nonfiction picture book, Jeanette Winter has painted a moving portrait of a New York artist who always felt his work was best understood by children.