Magritte's Marvelous Hat

K-Gr 4—"One bright day in the dark of night, the painter Magritte saw a marvelous hat in a store window." So begins this playful introduction to the style and subjects of the Belgian surrealist. Just as Johnson invited children into Thoreau's world in the "Henry" books by employing a bear to enact slices of the philosopher's life, here he casts a dog in the starring role. The bowler hat floats above the canine's head, infusing him with newfound energy, confidence, and ability. The art flows until the painter becomes overly absorbed in his work and attempts to control the bowler's impetuous personality. When the hat flees, the hunt begins. Early-20th-century Paris is the setting for parodies of many famous paintings, from "This Is Not a Pipe" ("hat" is substituted for "pipe," and it functions as a fountain) to the iconic picture of a landscape simultaneously covering the window and merging with the scene outside. References to Magritte's visual impossibilities and details are woven throughout; the illusions are further enhanced through the occasional use of cellophane pages that cleverly function on both sides. The artist's fascination with the limits of perception and two-dimensional representation provides mind-boggling images that children will relish. Johnson's additional layer of a hide-and-seek game and the inclusion of his own tricks offer more reasons to look closely. An author's note gives a brief context. Moving back and forth between this book and Magritte's art would be instructive and enjoyable for puzzle enthusiasts of any age. Beckoning, buoyant…brilliant.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library