Customer Reviews

Draw Me a Star (Paperstar Book)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am an enthusiastic fan of Eric Carle's work, and found this book to be unique, touching, and beautiful in its craft. However, when I read it through for the fist time with my two-year-old, I was surprised and a little uncomfortable when we turned a page and found a man and woman introduced to the story completely in the nude and basically anatomically correct! The pictures were tastefully drawn, inoffensive, and certainly appropriate in a creation story, but I wasn't expecting a variance from the usual tunic or fig leaf covering in that is usually present in such stories when the book is directed toward a young audience. Personally, I could have used a forewarning to prepare myself with positive and fitting responses to my child's natural curiosity. Whatever your comfort level is with nudity in art for children, it might be helpful to you to know it is there.

The paintings/illustrations in this book are classic Eric Carle and are actually on a bigger scale than many of his books. They are glorious and beatiful and in his completely unique style.

The story flows really well and can easily be seen as a religious tale. But, like the Chronicles of Narnia, it can be read just as a straightforward story, too.

Yes, the first time you read the story, if you aren't ready for it, the picture of the naked couple will catch you off guard. That isn't the usual fare for a children's book (although potty training books have no problem showing the same thing on children). The drawing is not highly detailed and almost impressionistic. So, if you are worried about that, be sure to preview it before you buy it and read it to your child. If you aren't aware of it, your reaction might only emphasize it more for your child and then they will focus on it, possibly in a way you don't want.

If you like Carle and his style, you'll probably like it, especially the drawings. The story is simple but can lead to discussion with older children about its meanings.

This book is well written and well illustrated. I feel sorry for the children who will be steered away from this story because of closemindedness. The adults seem to really be the ones who are uncomfortable with the illustrations.

Check the book out & judge for yourself. The illustrations are very tasteful and the 'anatomically correct' parts are really not that anatomically correct...at least I've never seen any nudes that look like the illustrations in the book!

This book is simply perfect. The artwork is wonderful(and very appropriate for children... I wonder if parents shy away from it because there is a drawing of a "naked" man and woman standing next to each other? If so, they are missing out on so much) and the story brings tears to my eyes with its simplicity. It is beautiful.

I am an enthusiastic fan of Eric Carle's work, and found this book to be unique, touching, and beautiful in its craft. However, when I read it through for the fist time with my two-year-old, I was surprised and a little uncomfortable when we turned a page and found a man and woman introduced to the story completely in the nude and basically anatomically correct! The pictures were tastefully drawn, inoffensive, and certainly appropriate in a creation story, but I wasn't expecting a variance from the usual tunic or fig leaf covering in that is usually present in such stories when the book is directed toward a young audience. Personally, I could have used a forewarning to prepare myself with positive and fitting responses to my child's natural curiosity. Whatever your comfort level is with nudity in art for children, it might be helpful to you to know it is there.

I'm not a huge fan of Eric Carle's work, nor of religiously-themed books written for small children... But this charming, colorful (and refreshingly nondenominational) 1992 picture book strikes a nice balance, and is one of Carle's simplest, most visually appealing children's books. In an interesting twist on the creation story, Carle casts the god-figure as an artist, first as an infant, asked to draw a star, then as a lad swiftly maturing into a teen, a young man, and finally into a wizened, flowing-beard style diety, who flies away into the heavens with the very stars he created, after having drawn man, woman, and the world they inhabit. One aspect of the book -- that someone was there to ask "The Artist" to draw all these things -- raises some interesting theological questions, but the central message of celebrating art and the world around is, is uncomplicated and welcome. Worth checking out, as long as you're not militantly agnostic or atheistic.

This one of Eric Carle's best works, and can be enjoyed by many ages and at many levels. First, there's the art, which is as bright and bold as his later works (Papa get me the Moon, and Slowly Slowly Slowly Said the Sloth). I think that the rainbow picture in this book would make an excellent print, as well as the flying Artist and star page.

Then there's the simple story of creatures asking for other creatures to be made with child-like associations (dog asks for a cat, cat asks for a bird, bird asks for a butterfly), and the neat cycle of starting and ending with a star.

Then there's the whole creation myth aspect. Not "The Creation Myth" which starts with darkness, but one that starts with the need to create the heavens; darkness comes much later in this story. The Artist ages as the world is being created. Could he be the embodiment of Time itself?

Or is the Artist Mr. Carle? I cannot read this without wondering if Mr. Carle is contemplating his life and work. If so, Mr. Carle, grab that star.

i heard people saying this book was borderline pornography. so i guess when you go to classic art museums and you see the body of a nude person it's porno. america is very ignorant for that stuff being so contraversial. if you go to european countries there are elementary children taking field trips to museums with completely exposed nude bodies and there is nothing wrong with it. it doesnt mean these kids are going to grow up with perverted minds. maybe if a a naked body wasnt made out to be such a dirty thing, children wouldnt care so much.

As a kindergarten teacher I was worried showing the "nude" picture of the couple - although I would not have hesitated to read it to my own child. I was worried about parents objecting. What I did so I could use it in the classroom was to have our art teacher use a permanent marker & actually draw swim trunks or shorts on the male & a bikini on the female. I'd hate to do this to an expensive hardcover book - but my paperback edition is now suitable to show to primary level students, without any worry of parental objections!

My son (now age 3) has loved this book for 6 months, as have we. It is a sweet, unusual story illustrated in the same colorful, enchanting way that all of Eric Carle's books are. In looking at a few reviews by others I was floored to read that some took exception to the illsutration of the nude couple or felt it necesitated a warning; my husband and I never thought twice about showing that image to our little son, and our son certainly isn't bothered by it in any way. In any event, I hope parents won't be too startled at the thought of a single page containing discreet nudity to consider sharing this book with their children - it would be a terrible shame if they did. This is a delightful book for bedtime.