Skip to main content

ROCKIN' READS: Drawn Together

Image
By


Drawn Together 
By Minh Lê
Illustrated by Dan Santat
Disney Hyperion, 2018. Picture Book

Have you ever had to talk to someone and you didn’t know what to say? Think of that particular moment and then think about what it would be like if you couldn’t even speak the same language as that particular person.

In this story a young boy is dropped off to spend a day with his grandpa. Only, they don’t speak the same language. The boy speaks English and the grandpa speaks Thai. They try to converse, but find it difficult and (thanks to the brilliant illustrations) we know that they are both a little frustrated. Finally the boy pulls out some paper and markers from his backpack. Grandpa’s face lights up and he hurries off to get his ink and brush. Soon the two are enjoying spending the day drawing together—and eventually both start to appreciate the different artistic style of the other.

This is a fantastic book! The illustrations are amazing (with fun styles that are more classic Asian-inspired as well as a touch of more modern, kid-inspired color sketches complete with various scribbles). This rockin’ read will help people realize that they don’t have to speak words to understand each other. And not only that, there just might be a lot more that people have in common than what they see at first glance. Seriously. This is one to go put on hold at the library right away—if you don’t go out and buy it that is…
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Display: Dino-mite Reads

By
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs By Mo Willems New York: Balzar + Bray, 2012. Picture Book. "Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Definitely not!" --Editor Smart Vs. Strong! Written by Jill Esbaum Illustrated by Miles Thompson New York: Simon Spotlight, 2021. Easy Reader. 64 pages. "When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend." --Editor How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Written by Ame Dyckman Illustrated by Jennifer Harney New York: Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. "When a child in a museum asks how dinosaurs became extinct, Dad co
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The Hidden Dragon

By
The Hidden Dragon By Melissa Marr New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. Fiction. 161 pages. Three children, Otter, London, and Sophia, live in a fantasy world with dragons. Otter (short for Ottilie) is the daughter of a ship captain, and she loves the sea and its dragons. London is a stowaway boy, searching for a new life full of adventure. Sophia lives in a thief house with other children, all dedicated to helping each other and trying to make the kingdom better. As trouble begins to brew both on land and at sea, these three heroes realize that maybe it's up to the kids to make things right. Readers experience the book from multiple perspectives, and with a bit of mystery and adventure, this is an amazing fantasy read. With the inspiring message that children truly can make a difference, readers will enjoy how each character fights for what's right, even when it's inconvenient. The ending is resolved a little quickly, but this is a great read for all "hatchlings."
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Iceberg

By
Iceberg By Jennifer A. Nielsen New York: Scholastic Press, 2023. Fiction. 339 pages. Hazel Rothbury has to get on the Titanic . Her family's livelihood depends on it. She's going to live with her aunt in New York and start working to send money back to her mother. When she discovers that she doesn't have enough money for a ticket, she sneaks on board and stows away. Hazel has an insatiable curiosity that drives her to pursue her dream of becoming a published writer. She decides the Titanic will be the perfect first story. As she makes friends and researches the ship, she uncovers a mystery and potential crime. Even though she's a young girl, stowing away in a lower cabin, she just might be the one to reveal the truth. I've never read a Titanic story I didn't love, and this book is no exception. I found myself immediately invested in Hazel's story. We know exactly what happened to the Titanic , but what happens to this young, smart girl? As she learns about
Post a Comment
Read more