MoMA's First Kids' Storybook Draws on Architects

New York City's Museum of Modern Art has a colorful new way of introducing young readers to works in its collection: children's storybooks. And the first, titled Young Frank, Architect, by award-winning and bestselling children’s book author Frank Viva, is all about architecture.

The story follows a young architect named Young Frank who likes to make things out of household materials, like a chair from toilet paper rolls and a twisty building from books.

Like the plotline itself, the illustrations also have architectural roots. "The quality of the line was inspired by old blueprints, which I love," Viva says. "The idea for the color palette began with Frank Lloyd Wright's Cherokee Red and grew from there."


Young Frank's grandpa, Old Frank, is also an architect — but he's, well, old school and doesn’t think architects should make things like cardboard-roll chairs and twisty buildings. The pair, wearing matching Le Corbusier–recalling glasses, head to MoMA to sort out their argument and see “the work of some REAL architects.”

"I think the whole thing was just a fantasy, though I had a similar relationship with my grandfather as a child," Viva says. "The glasses, bow ties and hats are just fun clichés."


At MoMA they encounter pieces currently in the museum’s actual collection, including Frank Gehry’s Wiggle Chair and Frank Lloyd Wright’s model of Broadacre City. “Are all architects named Frank?” Young Frank asks his grandpa.


When Young and Old Frank get home, they spend the evening making things together, like wiggly chairs and twisty towers from toilet paper rolls and even chocolate chip cookies. Seeing the museum collection makes Young Frank feel older and Old Frank feel younger.

This is the first in a series of children’s storybooks published by MoMA. A collaboration between illustrator Maira Kalman and author Lemony Snicket featuring photos from the museum’s collection and a picture book about Henri Matisse are coming soon.

Young Frank, Architect is available at MoMA stores and online for $16.95 ($15.95 for members).

URL: MoMA's First Kids' Storybook Draws on Architects http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-21210.html