Recommended by: Stephan J. Macaluso, Librarian
Oversize NK9509.5.F8 P376 2006
Manguel is a prolific author, translator and anthologist whose interests range from art appreciation to classics to mystery. Magic Land of Toys, however, is really a picture book. Manguel collaborates with photographer Michel Pintado, set designer Jean Haas and (the real star of the show) the toy collection of the Paris Musee des Arts Decoratifs to present a series of vignettes that conjure our childhood playrooms.
The cinematically-rendered images of the toys, posed --sometimes suggestively-- in mid-action, provoke us to reflect on play, collectables, childhood and age-old questions like Are toys really alive? and What do our toys do when we’re not around? While the scenes speak vivdly by themselves, Manguel’s insightful texts comment on memory, identity, lost toys, and the importance of imagination. This is a splendid source of introspection and nostalgia. It also makes a great game of I Spy.
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