Silent Days, Silent Dreams

Written & illustrated by Allen Say

A silent artist defies all odds to leave a lasting legacy.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,002 ratings

64 pages

$24.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Born deaf and mute, James Castle faced immense challenges on an Idaho farm. Yet, his art now graces major museums worldwide. Discover his journey from isolation to artistic triumph, as he overcomes barriers to communicate through his unique creations. How did a boy who couldn't speak or write become a celebrated artist? Explore the imagined childhood of Castle and witness the emergence of his extraordinary talent against all odds.

From the publisher

Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say brings his lavish illustrations and hybrid narrative and artistic styles to the story of artist James Castle.James Castle was born two months premature on September 25, 1899, on a farm in Garden Valley, Idaho. He was deaf, mute, autistic, and probably dyslexic. He didn’t walk until he was four; he would never learn to speak, write, read, or use sign language.Yet, today Castle’s artwork hangs in major museums throughout the world. The Philadelphia Museum of Art opened “James Castle: A Retrospective” in 2008. The 2013 Venice Biennale included eleven works by Castle in the feature exhibition “The Encyclopedic Palace.” And his reputation continues to grow.Caldecott Medal winner Allen Say, author of the acclaimed memoir Drawing from Memory, takes readers through an imagined look at Castle’s childhood, allows them to experience his emergence as an artist despite the overwhelming difficulties he faced, and ultimately reveals the triumphs that he would go on to achieve.