One of Lionni’s familiar-looking mice lives in a junk-strewn attic. When Matthew visits an art gallery, he is entranced. That night Matthew dreams about walking hand in hand through ‘playful patches of color.’ He awakens, his inspiration stays with him and he goes on to paint great things. Lionni uses familiar collage and color techniques, but what colors! He employs bright, rich hues that stand out smartly against white backgrounds. – School Library Journal (starred)