As his parents' shouting tears through the walls to the room where he is supposed to be sleeping, young Neil Waldman buries his face in his pillow and tries to swallow his tears. The trauma of his parents' fighting rips at him, but it will also open the path to Neil's career as an artist. Seeking refuge from a turbulent home life, Neil and his three siblings turn to the world of creativity. Their mother's book from an art museum in Russia is all the children need to set fire to their imaginations. And from there, drawing and painting become much more than pleasurable diversions-they become lifelines of hope that allow the youths to believe that there is lasting beauty in the world. Recipient of the ALA Notable and Parents' Choice Awards, Waldman has written and illustrated more than 50 books for children. Narrator George Guidall delivers a powerful performance of the author's engaging memoir. "Waldman offers an engaging, insightful story of how childhood experiences informed his career."-Booklist
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“Without labeling his family members as heroes or villains, Waldman clearly shows how a child comforts himself in an uncertain world. Young artists, as well as readers who wonder about the person behind the pictures they have seen, will appreciate every element of this book: well-constructed story, visual richness, and uncompromising honesty.”
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