(4) YA Expecting a quiet afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sheltered seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young finds herself bound to an awakened mummy, the reincarnated form of Egyptian Prince Amon. She must help him find his brothers and save the world from the dark god Seth. Houck's fast-paced tale twines modern adventure and Egyptian mythology into a somewhat predictable forbidden romance.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) YA High-school sophomore Wren, an artist with dreams of studying in France next year, meets senior Nolan at a Metropolitan Museum of Art gala (her father is museum director). Wren and Nolan fall hard for each other, and Wren's priorities fall away. Despite underdeveloped, credulity-stretching subplots (e.g., Wren's fifteen-year-old friend is sleeping with a thirty-something world-famous artist), many teens will connect with Wren's infatuation.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 Twenty paintings (in part or in full) depicting American history scenes are reproduced. Readers are encouraged to look closely to find particular details in each scene (e.g., "hat with a feather...the date 1840"). The interactive approach is engaging and challenging. More information about the artworks is provided at the end, along with thumbnails of the pieces.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) K-3 The process of how an artifact--in this case, an Egyptian Sphinx--ends up in a museum is explained to a group of visiting children. From "ordered by the pharaoh" to "repaired by the conservators," no step is left unexplored; textured cartoon illustrations help illuminate the events. This thorough discussion of the archaeological and curatorial processes will satisfy young historians.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) K-3 In this story based on his childhood, Velasquez describes a memorable first visit with his grandmother to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There they see a portrait that serves as young Eric's inspiration for an artistic career. Realistic-looking oil paintings show scenes of New York, from the staid museum to the barrio's markets where Grandma buys ingredients for a Christmas feast.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. In this wordless book, a girl leaves her balloon with a guard before entering the museum. When the balloon sails away, the guard takes off in pursuit. As a series of chaotic scenes around Manhattan follow, the action is reflected in the works of art the girl is viewing inside the museum. Funny and elegant at the same time--thanks to a remarkably evocative line, a sure sense of timing, and variations in perspective and layout.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1998