Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

The act of opening this eclectic, tall-format tome will launch readers on a leisurely and edifying journey of discovery. “Suppose you went into a museum and you didn’t know what it was,” the late, distinguished British author asks at the outset, then demonstrates the fundamentally eccentric nature of institutions more commonly viewed as sober and staid. Holland, also British, jolts readers still further with his mixed-media collages, which sparingly employ color and liberally combine what look like Victorian engravings, pencil sketches, Gorey-like figures, and photos of various locales. His stylish compositions play with perspective, type and design, making excellent use of the vertically oriented pages as the text pieces together an overview of museum evolution. The circuitous gambol includes the ancient muses (at the root of “museum”); Alexandria, Egypt; the Middle Ages; and such famous collectors and collections as Peter the Great and Oxford University’s Ashmolean. Mark doesn’t dwell long on any one era or topic, and her style is often both conversational and witty. Although the discussion is far-ranging (encompassing two-headed sheep and holy relics as well as the definition of a synoptic gallery), the inclusion of disparate items puts the concept of a museum into meaningful context by the conclusion. Also proffered are inventive examples of the word (the brain as a museum for thoughts). Throughout, the intricate details of the energetic compositions invite close perusal, prompting an analogy between this book and the exhibits it celebrates. Ages 8-up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Oct.)

ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

"You can stand all day and stare at a two-headed sheep, but you still won't discover why it has two heads." Informal and never reverential, this brisk, chatty illustrated introduction begins with a bewildered young girl's first visit to a museum that has many different exhibits. The book then considers everything from the origin of the word museum (from muse) to how scientists started classifying plants and animals. Sprinkled throughout are bits of fascinating information about artifacts in different museums (mainly in Europe but also in the U.S;fakes and mistakes; and much more. The scope is huge so nothing is covered in depth, but many kids will recognize the sense of awe and excitement museums inspire in their visitors. Holland's mixed-media illustrations show small, rich particulars within the big picture. A fun volume to ready readers for a museum trip.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-This slim, information-packed chronological history of museums includes such terms as "panopticon," "tumulus," and "elf bolts" and highlights the need to investigate, collect, and respect history through scientific study. Beginning with the first building to house "old and interesting things" in Ur in 550 BCE, Mark describes The Museum of Alexandria, explaining the etymology of the term by introducing the mythological Muses. A chapter on the Middle Ages mentions accumulations of holy relics, the search for rare and powerful objects by alchemists and apothecaries, and the Wunderkammer (chamber of wonders) of private collectors. The book covers noted collectors throughout history and also traces the development of modern museums. Readers learn that these institutions are not limited in size or content; the word may refer to an art gallery, a synoptic museum in which all objects share the same classification, or even a whole city. Even the mind is presented as a museum of ideas and a dictionary as a museum of words. Mixed-media illustrations present a collage of photographic and print images, incorporating varying fonts and surprising bursts of color amid the images. Above all, the author stresses the connection between the past and future. A thoughtful book for those who see collecting as joy or science.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Voice of Youth Advocates

Mark takes a historical approach here, beginning with a list of items one might find in a museum before proceeding to an explanation of the history of museums, dating the first museum to 550 BCE in Ancient Greece named after the Muses that inspired the arts. The book further explains the founding of museums in the modern world. Mark takes an unusual subject and creates a detailed description of the evolution of museums. This short, oversized book contains a wealth of historical information, including the name of the oldest existing museum in the world as well as the different types of museums, which might surprise readers. The pictures artistically draw readers into the text to examine the book as one might scrutinize an exhibit. Holland uses mixed media of collage and printing to create art with bright objects scattered against a soft background, allowing the images to pull in and stimulate the reader both intellectually and aesthetically. Although the narrow topic might confine readers, those who pick up the book will enjoy it.-Jennifer Rummel.