The review
"I hope that the child's imagination is stimulated to see things in their simplest form … so that life, with all its complications, becomes a little clearer." - Dick Bruna, creator of Miffy
Miffy! We have her creator, Dick Bruna to thank. This lovable rabbit has endeared herself to generations of children and her illustrations are found everywhere. Even adults can't get enough of her.
Continuing our art theme, I wanted to select a book that I could use to prep Foolet for what to expect at the National Gallery! I selected this book as it describes Miffy's first visit to a museum. It simplifies what can be a potentially overwhelming trip for a young child by distilling objects into basic shapes and colours, and it also inspires the young reader to create their own art from what they've seen.
It's a fantastic primer ahead of a visit to the museum. You can use the book to discuss with your child what to expect, and hear their opinions. At the same time, since it describes Miffy's decision after her visit to become an artist herself, consider using it as an opportunity to encourage your little one to put pencil / brush / crayon or even hand to paper.
Dick Bruna reminds us that the simplest execution can be memorable. Miffy's design is deceptively basic, but her simplicity makes it easy for a child to copy, and this will go a long way in encouraging them to keep drawing and imagining.