Silent Days, Silent Dreams

Silent Days, Silent Dreams explores the life of James Castle, a self-taught artist who was born deaf in 1899 in rural Idaho. The biography chronicles Castle's journey from childhood through adulthood, focusing on his development as an artist despite facing significant obstacles. The book incorporates over 100 illustrations that mimic Castle's distinctive artistic style, using soot, sticks and found materials. Through both text and artwork, readers witness Castle's persistence in creating art using unconventional tools and methods in the face of misunderstanding from those around him. The narrative examines Castle's unique perspective as a deaf artist and his dedication to expressing himself through visual art when traditional communication was not possible. Say's work illuminates themes of artistic determination, the power of self-expression, and the triumph of creativity over circumstance.

Readers appreciate the book's unique artistic style that mirrors James Castle's found-art techniques, using materials like soot and spit to create illustrations. Many note how effectively it conveys Castle's experience as a deaf, autistic, and illiterate artist. Parents and teachers value its message about perseverance and artistic expression despite disabilities. Some readers find the darker elements of Castle's life story challenging for young children, particularly descriptions of mistreatment at school. A few mention that the art style, while authentic to Castle's work, can be difficult for children to engage with. Reviews highlight the extensive research Say conducted, though some question the creative liberties taken with Castle's biographical details. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (393 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (29 ratings) School Library Journal: Starred Review Publishers Weekly: Starred Review One librarian reviewer noted: "The innovative format and mixed media perfectly capture Castle's artistic journey and resilience."

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🎨 Author Allen Say spent over four years researching James Castle's life and creating artwork in Castle's distinctive style for this biography 📚 James Castle, the book's subject, was born deaf and never learned to read, write, speak, or use sign language - yet created thousands of extraordinary artworks 🖍️ Castle made his own art materials, including mixing soot and spit to create ink, and used found objects like discarded mail and food containers as his canvas 🏆 Silent Days, Silent Dreams won the Schneider Family Book Award in 2018, which honors books that embody the disability experience 🏫 The actual James Castle House in Boise, Idaho, where the artist lived and worked, is now preserved as a cultural site and offers artist residency programs