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Ex-library book. Typical library markings are present. There is no highlighting in this book. Shows some signs of wear. Ex-library book. Typical library markings are present. There is no highlighting in this book. Shows some signs of wear. See less
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John Miller
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Before I Grew Up Hardcover – Picture Book, November 23, 2021

by John Miller (Author), Giuliano Cucco (Illustrator)
4.6 out of 5 stars 57 ratings
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A story of childhood dreams and adventures, and of the parental love that in seeing you, nourishes you to become yourself.


★ A Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings) Loveliest Children’s Book of 2021 ★


Using notebooks, paintings, and sketches, author John Miller (Winston and George) weaves a lyrical story about the childhood of an Italian artist named Giuliano Cucco. Through luminescent, emotionally rich images, Miller tells the story of a colorful family and an imaginative boy, from a time when children had the freedom to roam and to dream. This innovative picture book, sprung from images into words, is an ode to childhood and a celebration of the human spirit. It's also a celebration of the deep inner solitude that we possess as children, wherein we flourish. Here, our child protagonist is ripening on his own, and needs only three words from his father to help him confirm who he believes himself to be.

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  1. Reading age
    5 years and up
  2. Print length
    60 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Kindergarten and up
  5. Dimensions
    9.3 x 0.6 x 11.35 inches
  6. Publisher
    Enchanted Lion
  7. Publication date
    November 23, 2021
  8. ISBN-10
    1592703615
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1592703616
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Editorial Reviews

Review

★ A Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings) Best Children's Book of 2021★ Winner of Best Art Award, 2021 Northern Lights Book Awards
"A stunning illustrated elegy of life, loss, our search for light, and loneliness as a crucible of creativity. An uncommonly original and tenderhearted celebration of how an artist becomes an artist... Miller set out to honor his friend [Cucco] by bringing his story to life -- traveling back in time on the wings of memory and imagination, to the lush and lonesome childhood in which the artist's gift was forged, projecting himself into the boy's heart and mind through the grown man's surviving paintings, blurring fact and fancy... In spare, lyrical first-person narrative spoken by the half-real, half-imagined boy becoming an artist, Miller invokes the spirit of Giuliano's childhood. Emanating from it is the universal spirit of childhood... From this static scene depicted in one of Cucco's real paintings, from the known facts of his friend's life, in the voice of the boy about to be lit up by his creative calling, Miller's soaring imagination conjures up a larger poetic truth about what it means to be an artist, about the meaning of love and the measure of enough, about the slender strands of assurance that weave the lifeline of the creative spirit." --Maria Popova, The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)


"After hearing about Cucco's death in 2006, Miller--who had previously collaborated with Cucco on two children's books--linked a series of Cucco's paintings to tell this first-person story about the artist's childhood. Weaving together these heretofore-unconnected oil paintings, many of them deeply atmospheric and enigmatic, ... this series of impressions--about Cucco's childhood years, parents, moments in nature, dreams, life in the city before an eventual return to the country, and more-- are highly textured and richly colored, many showcasing a vivid, sunny yellow. A thought-provoking conversation starter for art lovers of all ages." --Kirkus Reviews


"Before I Grew Up is a very unusual picture book... It tells the story of the Italian painter Giuliano Cucco's childhood in the first person, but it is written by an old friend of his, John Miller... Looking through the late painter's archive in Rome, Miller found a group of paintings related to Cucco's childhood. He selected and arranged some of those pictures, complementing them with short, interpretive sentences. The alluring result is the imaginary life of the artist as a young boy, told through a sequence of lyrical scenes... Dreams and boats are recurrent themes in the story, as is light... This is not an easy book to summarize, and there are a number of fascinating and unexpected situations that are best left to the reader to experience directly." --Sergio Ruzzier, writing for the New York Times


"This tribute of a picture book is one that celebrates the creativity of childhood and how allowing unfettered time and space allow that creativity to carry into adulthood. Miller uses his words as a minimal framework to offer a glimpse of the artist's life and also to share his work. It is [Cucco's] paintings that truly tell the story, sharing emotions through the art. From darker moments to those filled with inspiration and light. The art is whimsical at times, literal at others... A lovely surreal look at an artist, creativity and childhood." --Tasha Saecker, Waking Brain Cells
"Miller has succeeded in offering a memorial to his friend by telling the story of how creativity is nurtured and developed. The haunting art does the rest of the job, encouraging readers to make up their own stories to go with the arresting images. Thought provoking and surrealistic in some places, evocative and strange in others." --New York Journal of Books

About the Author

John Miller, a nature writer, is the author of two books published by Enchanted Lion, Winston and George and Red Spider Hero. These children's books were illustrated by Giuliano Cucco, a close friend he met while living in Rome. News of Giuliano's death prompted him to link together a number of his friend's many paintings into a story that carries the reader deep into Cucco's rich world of childhood imagination.


Giuliano Cucco was an Italian artist and illustrator. He and his wife were killed by a motor scooter driver in a pedestrian crossing in Rome in 2006. He is survived by a son and two grandchildren.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Enchanted Lion
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 23, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 60 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1592703615
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1592703616
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.3 x 0.6 x 11.35 inches
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten and up
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 57 ratings

About the author

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John Miller

John Miller

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John Miller spent much of his grade school years with a friend, tramping about the woods and swamps of Morris County, New Jersey. Many years later, his youthful adventures in the natural world would inspire his work as a teacher as well as articles about beavers, trout, starlings, and other animals for The Audubon Society, The Natural History Museum, and the New York Times. Miller is now at work on a book about what we see when we look at everyday nature.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
57 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's stunningly gorgeous illustrations and lovely story. They appreciate its value, with one customer noting it's a wonderful book for instilling good values.

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Visual qualityValue for moneyStory quality
9 customers mention "Visual quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers praise the stunningly gorgeous illustrations of the book, with one customer noting they are created using oil paintings.

"Beautiful artwork and story...the illustrator and the author were close friends...it is woven with tenderness" Read more

"...Lion publishing house, contains Giuliano's absolutely beautiful paintings depicting scenes and feelings from his childhood to which Miller added his..." Read more

"Really like the illustrations..." Read more

"...I was so struck by the paintings and the story I bought a copy of the book for me and for my neighbor’s seven-year-old who is a budding artist...." Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be wonderful, with one mentioning it's a gem for their book collection and another noting it's great for instilling good values.

"...I Grew Up, only recently published in 2021 by the wonderful Enchanted Lion publishing house, contains Giuliano's absolutely beautiful paintings..." Read more

"Book arrived in excellent condition. A gem for my collection of books as art." Read more

"It’s a wonderful book, a rare gem for all ages." Read more

"Nice book - AWFUL packaging...." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories in the book, with one mentioning it provides interesting summaries of life.

"Beautiful artwork and story...the illustrator and the author were close friends...it is woven with tenderness" Read more

"...My neighbor, herself artistic, loved the story and the book and read it with her boy. It’s a lovely story and suitable for adults as well...." Read more

"The book has great illustrations and is very easy to read with the short stories and interesting summaries of life" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • js
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Beautiful artwork and story...the illustrator and the author were close friends...it is woven with tenderness
    Helpful
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  • me again
    5.0 out of 5 stars such a beautiful book, pictures and words, all of it!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I discovered this book through the online magazine The Marginalian - where she told the story of this author (American) and illustrator (Italian). John Miller (Author) met Giuliano Cucco (Illustrator) in Italy when John was abroad and they became good friends. John loved Giuliano's artwork, so they collaborated on children's picture books together. When John returned to the States he tried to find a publisher but wasn't able to for a few decades, until finally things came together. John received an offer and excitedly tried to reach out to Giuliano only to find he had passed away.
    This book, Before I Grew Up, only recently published in 2021 by the wonderful Enchanted Lion publishing house, contains Giuliano's absolutely beautiful paintings depicting scenes and feelings from his childhood to which Miller added his spare and touching words with a deep understanding of the painter's inner life.
    This is one of the most beautiful children's books I've ever seen, both the images and the words, and is a testament to the depth of friendship between the author and artist.
    I hope that knowing the story behind the book helps people find this beautiful book!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Colleen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book - AWFUL packaging.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Really like the illustrations (which is why I wanted it in the first place and gave this five stars - I didn't want Amazon's crappy shipping to take away from the book). But I should know by now to NOT buy books from Amazon - they are just tossed into an over-sized box with no packing, so the covers arrive torn and the book corners are bent. You're better off shopping from Abe Books or Alibris - first editions arrive in great condition, responsibly and safely packed for shipment.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • PamAla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I read the story of how the two men responsible for this book met as friends a while back. The Italian man and his wife were killed in a car accident in Rome. So John, the American, when he found that out, used the Italian’s wonderful illustrations/paintings to create this book. He used as a story what he remembered of his friend telling him of his Italian father and his growing up.I was so struck by the paintings and the story I bought a copy of the book for me and for my neighbor’s seven-year-old who is a budding artist. My neighbor, herself artistic, loved the story and the book and read it with her boy. It’s a lovely story and suitable for adults as well. You will adore the pictures.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sharon K. Johanns
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for instilling good values of looking at things that are important in life
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The book has great illustrations and is very easy to read with the short stories and interesting summaries of life
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Mrs. Mary M. Hartley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bookreview
    Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    It was so sweet!
    One person found this helpful
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  • DAB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely gem of a book as art
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Book arrived in excellent condition. A gem for my collection of books as art.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity is beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    It’s a wonderful book, a rare gem for all ages.
    4 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • WR61
    5.0 out of 5 stars Illusrations
    Reviewed in Canada on January 31, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Book is wonderful...but you sent it to me with a ripped cover...not impressed!
    Report
  • cath b
    3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, arrive crinkled
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    It came with crinkled cover paper. I didn't feel I could give it for a present. So it sits at home. Very pretty illustrations but it is like they water coloured in this actual paper.
    Report