Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood

A young girl named Mira, who takes pleasure in creating beautiful, vibrantly colorful works of art, and giving them to her neighbors, tapes one of her paintings on a neighborhood wall one day, and the results are magical. A muralist appears the next day, and using her painting as a starting point, creates a gorgeous mural that transforms the gray neighborhood, and involves everybody in the project. From one small idea, maybe something beautiful will arise...

Inspired by the true story of Rafael López, an artist and muralist who, together with his wide Candice, transformed San Diego's East Village with his Urban Art Trail project, Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood pairs an engaging, heartwarming story with show more absolutely gorgeous illustrations. López is, in fact, not only the inspiration for co-authors F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell's story, he is the illustrator as well, and if his artwork here is anything to judge by, then his murals must be truly beautiful. I appreciated the messages here, both about the power of art to lift up a community, and get people involved in a common project, and about welcoming everyone as a possible positive contributor. I was particularly struck by the latter, and by the fact that the police officer here is depicted in a positive light, as a member of the community. Given that the police have not always been viewed so positively of late, I thought that was an especially welcome element of the story. Recommended to all young artists, and to anyone looking for children's stories about art and its role in the wider community. show less

I loved this book. I love how the character is able to bring everyone together from her community/neighborhood by her art. It was a great way to demonstrate togetherness with the use of art in a neighborhood where everyone was different.

I really loved this book! The illustrations are vibrant, the characters are excellent and hopeful, and the writing is well-paced and engaging. The story starts with an all gray neighborhood that the little girl is slowly starting to bring color to. The illustrator really demonstrates this by having the beginning illustrations be entirely gray with little color where the little girl is to shifting towards the middle and end of the story, during and after the mural is painted, having the illustrations in all color. The illustrations enhance the story by bringing it to life and creating mood. The main character, the little girl, is a great character and is developed so well in the short text. She is hopeful that her art can make a show more difference in her neighborhood, and it does. She enlists the help of the others in her neighborhood, instilling her hope into them. Although I would say this book is more about the illustrations than the text, the author does a great job pacing the story. The story is short and develops rather quickly, but does not by any means feel rushed. The message of this story is that art can bring a group of people together. show less

Small details in children's books make me love them even more. This story for example, starts on the inside cover of the book, where a grey, drab city skyline is broken by a softly glowing, colorful window. The back inside cover is the same skyline but transformed, with bold and vibrant colors and a colorful bird flying through the blue sky. I think this book might become one of my new favorites. I love the message - art, community, possibility - and the illustrations are graphic, modern and a style I think children would adore. That the story is based on a true transformation makes the book even more wonderful. There is long author's note at the end that explains the real details that the story was based on; East Village near downtown show more San Diego, California and the impact of Rafael and Candice Lopez (artist and graphic designer). show less

Maybe Something Beautiful is more than just a beautiful children’s book. The words and illustrations create a heartwarming story of a grey city turning into a work of art. The story is set in East Village near downtown San Diego, California. Mira and her new muralist friend (whose character was inspired by the illustrator of this book) work together to paint the town and have the community join in on the project. On the beginning pages of the story the images are filled with browns, blacks, and greys. As Mira spreads her paintings to the towns people the colors change into bright orange, greens and purples. The use of the colors in the illustrations along with the words show the mood of the town shifting from sad and gloomy to lively show more and vibrant. The beautiful illustrations and the descriptive text show us a true story of “What good can a splash of color do in a community of gray?” Maybe Something Beautiful is a great book to add to a classroom bookshelf or even just to keep at home!
BIBLIO: 2016, HMH Books for Young Readers, Ages 3 to 7, $16.99.
Reviewer: Tyler Grant
Format: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0544357693 show less

This book tells the story of Mira, a little girl who lived “in the heart of a gray city,” but who loved to draw and fill her room with color. She decided to pass her pictures around to share the joy she got from brightly colored art.

One day she encountered an artist and he helped her paint bright colors on a wall, making it light up like sunshine. Other people soon joined in, drawing pictures on the bricks, adding “color, punch, and pizzazz!” As more and more people participated, “Color spread throughout the streets. So did joy.”

Mira and the artist went all around the city, painting bright colors, decorating “with poetry and shine.” The artist told the people, “You my friends, are all artists. The world is your show more canvas.”

As we learn in the Authors’ Note at the end of the book, a true story inspired this book. In fact, it is the story of the award-winning illustrator, Rafael López. He and his wife Candice helped form the “Urban Art Trail,” seeking volunteers of all ages, races, and walks of life to revive their community through art. The group transformed their neighborhood in San Diego’s East Village into a place of beauty. The movement spread as far away as Canada and Australia.

The joyous and colorful acrylic illustrations in this book by Rafael López himself have an emphasis on primary shapes and colors. The pictures often take up the whole double-page spread, using fluid shapes and movements to cross the seam between pages.

At a website based on the book, you can learn more about the Urban Art Trail and about murals used for beautification around the world. The site even includes a montage of pictures showing murals in many cities, including San Diego.

Evaluation: I found the “real” story more interesting than the fictional one. I also thought it was not made clear that random painting on walls is not always legal. But the illustrations are vibrant and interesting, and perhaps will inspire readers to learn more about how they, too, can make a difference in their communities. show less

I absolutely loved this children's book based on a true story. The illustrations, text, and the layout of the pages made this book come to life. This is a great book for an art class and helps to encourage children that everyone is an artist in some way and everyone has a chance to make something beautiful. Mira is an artist who runs into another artist and together they spread their love for art to everyone in their community, turning their neighborhood into a beautiful, colorful, joyous place.