From Publishers Weekly
According to the flap copy, Karas's (Home on the Bayou: A Cowboy's Story) own elementary-school experience with a difficult art project inspired this tale, which portrays a classroom episode that many readers will recognize. From the start, the narrative has a real-life ring. The story opens after his first day of school, as a frustrated Fred tells his older sister, Martha, "Everyone says I can't even draw a straight line." When she asks, "Who's everyone?" Fred replies, "Frances," referring to the class noodge. Though Martha gives her sibling a quick drawing lesson that boosts his confidence, his teacher then assigns an art project that stymies him. Fred repeatedly bungles the ambitious project he tackles to create a life-size tipi and has nothing to show the class on the day the assignment is due. "I give up being an artist," announces the discouraged lad; the accompanying illustration shows him enveloped by darkness, a black cloud over his head. When his teacher suggests that he draw a picture of how he feels, the boy draws the black cloud over his tipi, which spurs a series of pictures that form a pastoral mural. His masterpiece impresses all of his peers (even Frances) and earns him the label specified in the book's title. Stylized, cartoon-like art and some creative arrangement of type keep the mood light. With understatement and subtle humor, Karas neatly delivers a lesson on perseverance and the importance of believing in one's abilities. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-Fred likes to draw pilgrims. In fact, he only draws pilgrims. Lots of them. However, when his teacher gives the students an entire week to create anything they want, the boy decides to make a tipi, one that he can sit in, with real drawings on the walls. Wanting to keep his project a secret, he asks for no assistance and struggles, bewildered as to how to proceed. When it's time for the children to share their projects, Fred sneaks off into a corner and cuts a small, one-dimensional tipi out of some plain white paper. After his teacher criticizes his weeklong effort, he sulks at his desk. He decides to give up on being an artist-until his teacher urges him to "draw a picture of how you feel." Since Fred feels miserable, he draws a large black cloud, which looks like smoke, so he glues his tipi under it. Looking as if it is now on fire, his tipi suddenly flames his creativity, and when circle time is over, the students discover that their classmate has been busy creating a colorful mural. The story offers a positive lesson in determination and creativity. Karas's mixed-media (gouache, watercolors, acrylics, and pencil) illustrations convey the boy's emotions, although they hover at times between looking either unfinished or too cluttered. Fred's personality, however, is aptly depicted, and frustrated artists everywhere will find a friend in him.
Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
