by Allen Say
Amazon Description:
James Castle was born two months premature on September 25, 1899, on a farm in Garden Valley, Idaho. He was deaf, mute, autistic and probably dyslexic. He didn't walk until he was four; he would never learn to speak, write, read or use sign language.
Yet, today Castle's artwork hangs in major museums throughout the world. The Philadelphia Museum of Art opened "James Castle: A Retrospective in 2008." The 2013 Venice Biennale included eleven works by Castle in the feature exhibition "The Encyclopedic Palace." And his reputation continues to grow.
Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say, author of the acclaimed memoir Drawing from Memory, takes readers through an imagined look at Castle's childhood, allows them to experience his emergence as an artist despite the overwhelming difficulties he faced, and ultimately reveals the triumphs that he would go on to achieve.
My Thoughts:
Since my husband is an artist, an oil painter, I always enjoy children's books about art. Silent Days, Silent Dreams is one of my very favorites. Learning about not only the creativity of an artist, but their life, is something I truly value. Since I live in the Pacific Northwest, I was surprised to discover that I'd never heard of James Castle - what an amazing and talented man. The illustrations by Mr. Say are stunning, and truly honor the life of the unique artist. I highly recommend Silent Days, Silent Dreams to readers of all ages, and also to those who love art!
Click here to learn about the author/illustrator, Allen Say.
Click here to learn more about the artist, James Castle.
