Author: Mark Crilley
Illustrator: Mark Crilley
© Date: 2016
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
Pages: 137
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: Yes, graphic novel
Publisher Recommended Age: 8-12 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No
Summary from Book: The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw
Page Pig Thoughts: Drawing lessons built into a story based on drawings made for an amazing read. I loved this one for the learning aspect, not because the narrative is really catchy or engaging. I would have liked to draw along with it, but alas, I didn’t get that far. I still learned from it though. This one seems useful for a kid that enjoys drawing and is receptive to tools for improvement. The main character, David, is the one getting the constructive criticism, but you can still learn along with him.
Family Unit: No mention is made of David’s family. Becky has a father.
Conflict/Social Issues:
- Becky is frustrated about David’s somewhat over-enthusiasm to learn from her and kinda stalking her.
- David gets frustrated that he can’t do everything right away.
Positive Items:
- Becky is able to patiently work with David to improve his drawing skills. She doesn’t cheer for him, but she breaks everything into small, manageable lessons that he can work with.
Items of Interest:
- Each chapter is a lesson on a different drawing lesson. You can follow the narrative of David and Becky, but the narrative is really just a tool for giving the drawing lessons from a teacher’s/mentor’s perspective. Even without doing the suggested drawing activities, you can learn different drawing skills.
- Becky makes it clear that “art isn’t a contest,” but about enjoying drawing well.
- David has a hard time waiting for his lessons. He was out on his bike, sees Becky, then follows Becky to her house. No mention is made of his parents anywhere and David had seen Becky a few times before this. Ultimately, since this is really a story to learn how to draw, a child entering a somewhat stranger’s house seems less gasp worthy.
- After all their time together, Becky appreciates David’s company. At the end of the story, David rides his bike to Becky’s house and finds a moving truck. Becky was tired of saying goodbyes to everyone and was just going to leave without saying goodbye to David. He sheds a few tears that she was going to do that and she is moving. Becky apologizes and tells him that he is ready for a new art teacher anyway, he can learn from the museum art.
Similar Book, But Not Series (At Time of Posting):
- The Comic Book Lesson