The Magic Paintbrush - Softcover

Muller, Robin

4.27

60 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0385253737 ISBN 13: 9780385253734

Publisher: Doubleday Canada, 1992

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A story of magic and wonder inspired by a Chinese folk tale. Full-colour throughout

Nib, a young orphan, has but one wish- to paint pictures so real people will think they are alive. One night Nib rescues an old man from a gang of thugs, and receives his wish as a reward for his bravery. But Nib's dream is nearly his downfall, as a greedy king tries to take advantage of the boy's gift. Nib finally triumphs, but only after he has learned a valuable lesson.

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From the Publisher:

A story of magic and wonder inspired by a Chinese folk tale.

Full-colour throughout

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-6-- The artwork in this book of fantasy is richly detailed and sophisticated, from the purple and black endpapers with astrological symbols to the bordered full-page pictures, dark with shadows and alive with Dickensian characters. Children will enjoy the mysterious transformations and the surrealistic touches; adults will relish the Victorian street scenes and appreciate sly references to art and literature, such as the inclusion of Toulouse Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh in the first illustration. Muller's tale, however, is weighty and too complicated. The story concerns Nib, a street boy and talented artist, who rescues an old wizard. His reward is a paintbrush capable of creating and making real everything he paints. When the king of the land, nicely garbed as a Regency dandy, discovers Nib's talent and wishes to use it to increase his own power, the boy paints him a navy and sends him out to sea in a monstrous storm. Tossing away his magic brush, Nib chooses to create art from the heart rather than from magic. It's hard to tell whether the point of the story is that magic is a double-edged sword, or that absolute political power is evil, or that the true purpose of art is not to paint things as they are but to seek beauty in the midst of ugliness. The text is contrived, but it does provide occasion for interesting pictures. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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