−15%

Mr. Owliver's Magic at the Museum

✍️ Bracken, Carolyn
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$14.44 $16.99 Save $2.55 (15%)
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Chadwick and Friends -7%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Priscilla Cummings, A R Cohen
Chadwick and Friends
$11.99 $12.99
86
The World in Me -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Tavoularis, Daria
The World in Me
$16.99 $19.99
86
I Could Be: Josephine and the Steam Toddler Dreamers Regwan, Sol
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Sol Regwan, Denise Muzzio
I Could Be: Josephine and the Steam Toddler Dreamers Regwan, Sol
$9.27
86
America's Flag Story -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Karen S Robbins, J James
America's Flag Story
$14.44 $16.99
81
Geraldine and the Gizmo Girl Collection: 4-Book Box Set -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Sol Regwan, Denise Muzzio
Geraldine and the Gizmo Girl Collection: 4-Book Box Set
$47.99 $56.99
78
Once Around the Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ellen Evert Hopman, Lauren Mills, Jane Yolen
Once Around the Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year
$14.44 $16.99
86
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Join Mr. Owliver, the dedicated nocturnal guardian of the Animaltown Art Museum, whose solitary vigil belies a profound connection to the masterpieces under his care. While others perceive loneliness, he finds vibrant companionship in the ensouled subjects of the paintings, particularly the captivating Ms. Wren. On a seemingly ordinary birthday, a subtle shift in perception leads him to a startling discovery, unveiling the living essence of the collection. This journey into the heart of artistic consciousness promises a night of unexpected revelations, designed to introduce young minds to art's deeper currents while offering seasoned seekers a refreshing perspective on the anima mundi.

🏛 Schiffer Kids 📅 2017 📖 40 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780764354274
Fun Fact
This charming narrative masterfully cloaks profound esoteric concepts within an accessible tale, making it a rare gem for initiates of all ages. It excels at subtly introducing the idea of living art and the magic of heightened perception through a delightful, anthropomorphic lens. While those seeking overt grimoires or complex ritual magic might find its gentle approach too subtle, it stands as an elegant testament to the hidden life within the mundane, a quiet initiation into wonder for the discerning seeker.

📝 Description: Mr. Owliver's Magic at the Museum

Mr. Owliver loves his job as night watchman for the Animaltown Art Museum, partly because he's an owl and is up at night anyway, but mostly because he's proud to protect such beautiful works of art. His friends think he must be lonely, but he has the company of all the subjects in the paintings. One in particular, the lovely Ms. Wren in Auguste Wrenoir's The Loge, is his favorite. One night on his birthday he has a feeling things aren't as they should be. That's when he makes a startling discovery that begins a night full of surprises. This is definitely a birthday Mr. Owliver will never forget! This book is designed to introduce children to some famous masterpieces while entertaining the adult reader with visual puns.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
While charming in its premise of living paintings and nocturnal guardianship, this book is strictly tailored to a young demographic and may bore older adolescents or adults seeking rigorous occult theory. It does not suit readers looking for dense philosophical treatises or traditional grimoires, as the magic here is whimsical rather than instructional. Those expecting horror or dark fantasy will find the tone too gentle and safe. However, for its intended audience, it succeeds beautifully in blending art history with soft mysticism. The narrative avoids heavy didacticism, instead relying on atmosphere and character to convey its message. It is a delightful, low-stakes entry point into esoteric thought, though those craving complexity or mature thematic depth will likely find it overly simplistic and sweet.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This enchanting volume is a perfect gift for young readers who feel the quiet magic of museums after hours, offering them a narrative that validates their imagination and sense of wonder. It appeals to parents and educators seeking to introduce art appreciation through a lens of spiritual connection rather than dry history. The story gently invites children to see the world as alive with hidden presences, fostering an early comfort with esoteric ideas like the soul of nature. By framing complex philosophical concepts such as the anima mundi within the safe, familiar context of a birthday celebration and animal companionship, it makes profound metaphysical themes approachable. It is ideal for bedtime reading that sparks conversation about perception, loneliness, and the vibrant inner life of art.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
Seekers of the subtle, those who believe in the animated spirit of creation, and initiates of all ages will find profound joy within these pages. Discover how art itself can whisper ancient truths, if only one knows how to listen at the liminal hour.

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
E
Esoterica Books editorial team

While charming in its premise of living paintings and nocturnal guardianship, this book is strictly tailored to a young demographic and may bore older adolescents or adults seeking rigorous occult theory. It does not suit readers looking for dense philosophical treatises or traditional grimoires, as the magic here is whimsical rather than instructional. Those expecting horror or dark fantasy will find the tone too gentle and safe. However, for its intended audience, it succeeds beautifully in blending art history with soft mysticism. The narrative avoids heavy didacticism, instead relying on atmosphere and character to convey its message. It is a delightful, low-stakes entry point into esoteric thought, though those craving complexity or mature thematic depth will likely find it overly simplistic and sweet.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While accessible to young minds, its deeper currents resonate with seekers of all ages. The layered narrative allows for both simple enjoyment and a more profound contemplation of artistic vitality and the unseen world, a true all-ages initiation.
The magic here isn't of spells and wands, but the subtle, intrinsic kind: the awakening of consciousness within inanimate forms, the animation of artistic intent, and the profound revelations that occur when one perceives beyond the mundane, a true alchemy of perception.

📖 Who should read this

Seekers of the subtle, those who believe in the animated spirit of creation, and initiates of all ages will find profound joy within these pages. Discover how art itself can whisper ancient truths, if only one knows how to listen at the liminal hour.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Awakening of Spirit in Art

Explore how the book suggests the dormant power within artistic creations. Mr. Owliver's unique connection allows him to perceive the vibrant, conscious energies imbued within the masterpieces, blurring the line between observer and participant in the artistic current that flows through the ages.

The Solitary Sentinel

Delve into the symbolism of Mr. Owliver's night watchman role. His nocturnal vigil represents a journey into the subconscious, guarding not just physical artifacts but the esoteric secrets they hold, thriving in solitude where others perceive absence, becoming a silent witness to the unseen.

Revelation of the Unseen

The narrative subtly unveils how ordinary moments can become conduits for extraordinary perception. On his birthday, Mr. Owliver experiences a shift in awareness, revealing the animated essence of the museum's collection, a testament to the magic latent in the familiar, awaiting discovery.

📜 Historical context

This work subtly echoes ancient animistic traditions where all forms, including human creations, possess an inherent spirit. It touches upon the esoteric concept of the *Anima Mundi* expressed through art, aligning with traditions that perceive hidden life and consciousness within the material realm, a concept explored from Neoplatonism to Hermetic philosophy.

📚 Glossary

Anima Mundi
Liminality
Esoteric Art

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Consider a piece of art or an object in your own life that feels particularly 'alive.' What energy or story does it convey to you, and why?
  2. Reflect on moments of solitude or nocturnal hours. How might these times offer unique perspectives or reveal hidden aspects of your surroundings that are typically overlooked?
  3. If works of art could truly communicate, what ancient wisdom or untold secret do you believe they would share with humanity about our existence or history?

🏛 Books from this publisher Schiffer Kids

All books from this publisher →
Thomas Jefferson and the Return of the Magic Hat Kalb, Deborah -7%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Deborah Kalb, Robert Lunsford
Thomas Jefferson and the Return of the Magic Hat Kalb, Deborah
$11.99 $12.99
78
If I Were the Moon -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Jesse Terry, Jacqueline East
If I Were the Moon
$14.44 $16.99
86
The Sand Lady: A Cape May Tale -21%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Litzenberg, Corinne M
The Sand Lady: A Cape May Tale
$14.95 $19.00
78
The Sweet Rot, Book 2: Raiders of the Lost Art
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Simko, Joe
The Sweet Rot, Book 2: Raiders of the Lost Art
$19.99
78
The Future Architect's Tool Kit -30%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Beck, Barbara
The Future Architect's Tool Kit
$29.99 $43.00
78
Sun & Moon Take Turns -13%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Lili Debarbieri, Katie Wools
Sun & Moon Take Turns
$12.99 $14.99
78
Dragon's Castle -7%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Richard, Laurent
Dragon's Castle
$11.99 $12.99
86
The Bird Who Swallowed a Star -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Laurie Cohen, Toni Demuro
The Bird Who Swallowed a Star
$14.44 $16.99
86

You might also like

See more →
The Bird Who Swallowed a Star -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Laurie Cohen, Toni Demuro
The Bird Who Swallowed a Star
$14.44 $16.99
86
The Nightmare Bug -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Hillary Daecher, Angie Hohenadel
The Nightmare Bug
$14.44 $16.99
86
If I Were the Moon -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Jesse Terry, Jacqueline East
If I Were the Moon
$14.44 $16.99
86
Infinity: The Magical Cycles of the Universe Mariño, Soledad Romero -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Soledad Romero Mariño, Mariona Cabassa
Infinity: The Magical Cycles of the Universe Mariño, Soledad Romero
$15.99 $18.99
86
Opposites: The Opposing Forces of the Universe Mariño, Soledad Romero -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Soledad Romero Mariño, Mariona Cabassa
Opposites: The Opposing Forces of the Universe Mariño, Soledad Romero
$15.99 $18.99
86
Chadwick and Friends -7%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Priscilla Cummings, A R Cohen
Chadwick and Friends
$11.99 $12.99
86
Dragon's Castle -7%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Richard, Laurent
Dragon's Castle
$11.99 $12.99
86
Wicked Creatures of Cape Cod and the Islands -7%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Elizabeth Kleekamp White, Eli White
Wicked Creatures of Cape Cod and the Islands
$11.99 $12.99
86
The World in Me -15%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Tavoularis, Daria
The World in Me
$16.99 $19.99
86
I Could Be: Josephine and the Steam Toddler Dreamers Regwan, Sol
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Sol Regwan, Denise Muzzio
I Could Be: Josephine and the Steam Toddler Dreamers Regwan, Sol
$9.27
86

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Esoteric Meaning

Concepts in this book

Museum →Magic →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist