David's Drawings

Publishers Weekly

In her insightful narrative and handsome cut-paper-and-collage artwork, Falwell (Word Wizard; The Letter Jesters) subtly conveys the importance of both teamwork and independence. In the opening spreads, she shows David hanging back from the other kids on a snowy day. But when he begins to sketch a bare-limbed tree he'd spotted on the way to school, his classmates notice. "Nice tree," says Amanda, adding, "But it needs color." David obliges with some brown crayon bark and, with his shy approval, Amanda herself scribbles in green grass. Jamal offers some "cool stickers" and Laurel draws in a ballerina modeled on herself. In all, nine children contribute to the drawing, with each addition cumulatively charted by Falwell in a boxed vignette off to the side. What was once a study of wintry solitude now looks downright springlikeAand the experience causes David to blossom as well. Amanda invites him to play at recess, and when he returns to the classroom, he labels the drawing "Our Class Picture." But what's noteworthy here is that Falwell takes her parable one step further: back at home, David recreates his original, elegantly austere tree, titles it "My Drawing" and proudly hangs it over his bed. Falwell makes it clear that David is better off for connecting to his peers, but also shows that his artistic integrity is equally important. Ages 3-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

From The Critics

In this charming story, a young boy is accepted by his classmates when he starts a drawing of a tree and the children add to it to make a class picture. At the end of the story David draws his tree the way he sees it, and hangs it in his room. This book is a nice illustration of the balance between cooperation and individuality. The pictures are bright, colorful, and fun. Children will relate to this story on many levels. 2001, Lee & Low Books, $16.00. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: S. Latson SOURCE: Parent Council, September 2001 (Vol. 9, No. 1)

Children's Literature

It is a gray winter day, but while walking to school, David appreciates the beauty of a single tree on a snow-covered hill. He arrives at school and settles into drawing the tree. His classmates become interested in the drawing and soon everyone is involved in adding color, trees, turtles and more to what David later labels "Our Class Picture." That afternoon at home, David makes his own picture. Falwell's story is an endearing tale of shyness and friendship, and it celebrates both teamwork and independence. Readers will enjoy the boxes provided on each page-spread that chart the growth of the pictures. 2001, Lee & Low, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Heidi Green

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-One wintry morning, David, a shy African-American boy, spies a beautiful tree on his way to school. Before class begins, he gets a paper and pencil and draws its trunk and bare branches. Soon, his schoolmates look on and make suggestions: Amanda thinks the picture needs color, Laurel thinks "It needs a person-like me!" Ryan adds some leaves and Jamal contributes some cool stickers. Someone else says, "Birds would look nice." After they all add their own touches, David captions it "Our Class Picture" and hangs it on the bulletin board. On the way home, the child once again sees his tree and draws a new picture. When his sister says, "Nice drawing.-But it needs something," her suggestion is that it needs to hang on the wall. He adds the words "My Drawing" and tacks it above his bed. Falwell's cut-paper and fabric collages offer rich details of David's world. Snow banks billow across the hills, colorful tissue paper is used to create the classroom walls, and a small white "page" on the right side of each spread shows David's work as it progresses. In this gentle and appealing story, a boy figures out how to stay true to his own artistic vision while allowing his friends to express their own creativity.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.