Mural on Second Avenue and Other City Poems

By Lilian Moore

Book Overview

Brought to life through Roma Karas's simple, vibrant illustrations, this collection of poetry by Lilian Moore offers a loving tribute to small moments in the big city, and to the children who live there. Lilian Moore had a lifetime of experience as an author of books for young readers -- and a particular expertise for observing and celebrating life from a child's point of view. In this collection, seventeen poems speak to the joys and everyday wonders of city living, including the hush of a snowy morning, the grandeur of skyscrapers and bridges, the phantom faces reflected in store windows, and the transforming effects of a neighborhood mural painted "on the blank / unwindowed wall" by someone "dreaming / to the slap of a / wet brush." Back matter includes an index of first lines.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763619876
• ISBN13: 9780763619879
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.7" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

Fairy poem of the city

I am definitely charmed by Lilian Moore poems, but I also want to tell few words about illustrations. First thing I noticed about illustrations was... that I could not find them. They just were not separable from the poems in the book. One body and soul, one true love, one poetic story of the city (big or small) for a child (big or small). And this very fact, I suppose, is the greatest success of Roman Karas - extremely gifted artist, who managed to not only reveal his artistic talent but also do it in a very "understanding" manner. Neither did he overpowered nor yielded to the strength of Lilian Moore's poetic images - but matched and mingled his own into, creating, this synthetic artwork, that is greater then just text plus illustrations. As the good theater starts from garderobe, this book captures the reader from the title pages. No poems were read yet, but the story has started with the image of the house-book - very poetic and very precise concept of the whole book. The book in which turning the new page is like opening new door (painted wood in the background is another grate tip carefully left by illustrator). The house, that opens it's pages letting out it's characters so resembling yourself. Or may be you are the one to step into? I want to thank Roma for this creak of old doors, smell and touch of old paint, fairy tale of window reflections, that adds it's voice to the poetry of the book.

Wisdom and Youth

This amazing book happened to be the last for poet Lilian Moore (who died at the age of 95 in 2004) and the first for a young artist Roma Karas. No wonder it combines wisdom and youth, experience and freshness, mystic and realism. Written for kids, the poems and images will remind you of your own childhood, no matter how old you are. You will recognize your own native town in images of New York, no matter what part of the world you were born in. And you will smile at the end of this book, no matter what...

Beautiful glance at life in the city through a child's eyes

A delightful book for the whole family. Beautiful illustrations by Roma Karas bring wonderful poetry by Lilian Moore to life. Feel the "silence in the city hushed by snow," look at "how roofs design a sky," "fling yourself into the tree's great pool of shade." Enjoy!

Charming

The Mural on Second Avenue reminds me of the beautifully illustrated poetry books I had as a young child in the 1950's. I remember the pictures inspiring me to memorize, recite and fantasize about the poetry. The Mural on Second Avenue has that same quality. The illustrations using wonderful colors and textures contain little surprises at every turn. A truly charming book for all children.

Amazing illustrations

We liked poems very much, and how artist, Roma Karas,illustrated them. "Mural on Second Avenue" looks very colorful and "fresh". We are very glad that we ordered this book.