Simon at the Art Museum by Christina Soontornvat (review)

Simon’s parents are optimistically taking him out for a whole day at the art museum, and at first it’s a little overwhelming (“So. Much. Art”), with the museum restaurant offering a greater appeal. When Simon slumps upside down on a bench, however (“I’m just going to enjoy the art from a new angle for a little while”), he begins to see not the art but people’s reactions to it. That’s enough to give him a new appreciation for the museum (“He felt right in the middle of everything, but kind of separate, too”), clinched by his finding a painting with special meaning for him. This is a creative take on the oft-told story of kid meets art museum, and Simon’s grappling with a novel setting and challenging constraints is depicted with humorous sympathy. The people-watching prompt could be a useful approach for kids in all kinds of situations, and his bonding with a painting is a reminder to adults that youngsters may find it easiest to connect to paintings that relate to their own experience. Davenier’s art, with its usual playfully scrawled lines and taste for contrasting yet sophisticated vivid colors, effectively balances squirmy Simon with the cathedral air of a great museum hall. No notes are provided on the art incorporated, ranging from Matisse and Picasso to Giacometti (in a delicately comic echo of a museum patron) and Calder, but that could result in an entertaining virtual museum scavenger hunt. This would be an imaginative prep for a museum visit or just a way to open up a new conversation about art.