Pistes d'exploration

Decide whether you agree with the art teacher’s idea to have Tommy copy what she does. Be sure to explain your reasoning.

Sequence the story using a graphic organizer.

Create a picture using various art media and explain how you created it.

Write about something you love to do or make.

Find examples of what Tommy likes to draw. How does his family encourage him? What problem does Tommy have at school? How does the art teacher solve the problem?

Make a timeline to sequence the events in the story.

Choose an object in the class and give a partner a step-by-step explanation of how to draw it. 

Ish

Mots-clés

Picture book , art , artists , creativity , drawing , individuality , problem-solving

Commentaire descriptif

Based on the author’s childhood, this is the story of a boy who wants to be an artist when he grows up. At home, his parents encourage him by giving him a box of 64 crayons and posting his creations on the fridge door, and his grownup cousins in art school urge him not to copy but to “practice, practice, practice.” In Grade One, however, young Tommy discovers that the art lesson is far more restrictive than he expected—until he reaches a special compromise with an open-minded teacher. Cartoonish pencil illustrations in a warm, soft-edged palette accompany this childhood memoir about having the determination to follow your dreams. Suitable for read-aloud or for independent readers who may recognize the frustrations of the main character who has his own ideas about learning, the story could lead to discussions about perseverance, compromise, individuality, talent, dreams or proactive ways of coping with a dismaying classroom situation.