The Outdoor Museum : The Magic of Michigan's Marshall M.Fredericks

An illustrated children's book that helps young readers appreciate the work of a major sculptor, Marshall M.

Fredericks (1908-1998). Marshall Fredericks's sculptures can be seen in public places throughout the world, but it is in Michigan, where he lived for sixty years, that his legacy shines.

Although his name is unknown to many people, a work such as The Spirit of Detroit is instantly recognized and loved by millions.

This delightful book follows a young girl named Abby, who is captivated by the sculptures she sees around Detroit - bronze pterodactyls, soaring humans, bears, clowns, and more. ""How could anyone be in charge of decorating a whole city?"" she wonders.

With so many marvelous sculptures, it takes the determination of a curious child to discover them and learn how they were made.

The Outdoor Museum is a charmingly illustrated volume that teaches us about sculptures encountered every day.

Abby leads the reader around the state to discover many of Fredericks's best-known works; along the way, she learns how bronze sculptures are created, introduces the idea of a ""photo safari,"" and discovers some of the notable cultural institutions in the Detroit area and Michigan.

The Outdoor Museum is a guide to finding and appreciating hundreds of sculptures around the Great Lakes that were created by Marshall M.

Fredericks, an artist whose affection for children is evident in every piece.

More than that, it is an invitation to the region's residents and visitors to discover the private world of public art.