Customer Reviews

Draw and Write Through History (Creation through Jonah, Volume 1)

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My daughter is enjoying learning to draw pictures that tie into what we are studying. She said that the lessons were easy to understand and not too detailed to make it difficult to follow.

Write and Draw Through History easily fits into our current curriculum and provides an additional dimension to our studies. I also appreciate the cursive practice that my daughter receives after the drawing sessions.

Topics covered in this book include: Creation (c. 6000-4000 B.C.), Noah's Ark/Ice Ace (c. 4000-2500 B.C.), The Tower of Babel (c. 3500-3000 B.C.), Egypt (c. 2682-2181 B.C.), China (c. 2690-2000 B.C.), Joseph/Moses (c. 1914-1270 B.C.), Trojan Horse/David (c. 1250-1055 B.C.), and Jonah (c. 776-760 B.C.)

This is a pretty interesting book. Draw and Write Through History is a supplemental history book that combines history, cursive, and drawing. In each section questions are asked- with no answers given- with the encouragement to go out and find the answers on your own. Written by a homeschool mom named Carylee Gressman, and illustrated by a pastor's wife named Peggy Dick, it is God-glorifying and includes instructions on how to draw animal, people, and more technical things like the Trojan Horse and a Phoenician ship. My son chose to draw the pyramid first. He carefully drew the basic shape- easy when it is broken down into steps. He filled in the lines meticulously. I showed him how the alternating lines made the brick pattern... and he was very pleased with himself when he saw how easy it was to make the pyramid look "three-dimensional, [with] one side... a little darker than the other side." Short historical facts are interspersed on the pages, which are 8.5 X 11 and easy for us to share. Each chapter ends with a full page of facts, written in cursive, for the student to read and copy. I think it's good for the kids to learn to read cursive. The back of the book is dead-on when it says "Whether you use the classical, Charlotte Mason, or traditional text-book method, your students will retain more of what they have learned by drawing and writing about each time period."

The book, Draw and Write Through History written by Carylee Gressman and illustrated by Peggy Dick contains many jewels to help teach your child history, review what they are learning in the Bible, or give them a chance to see how far their artistic skills can take them! There are several sections in the book ranging form Creation all the way through Jonah. Each section contains step by step directions both written and illustrated. Illustrations, from my unartistic point of view range from very simple to very complex. So, this gives the young artist a chance to pick and choose what could be simple, challenging or extremely difficult. At the end of each section, there are two paragraphs written in cursive for the artist to copy. These are both historically and Biblically accurate. The writing exercise also provides great practice on handwriting skills. Professor Doodle is a cartoon character who takes the student step by step to draw anything from a pyramid to Moses.

Draw and Write Through History: Creation through Jonah by Carylee Gressman and illustrated by Peggy Dick is a great supplement to history curriculum (if you homeschool) or worship time. It reinforces Biblical truths, handwriting and history. This is a great opportunity for children who enjoy art to learn basic steps to drawing as well as all the other good things mentioned above!

As the Gressman family traveled across the United States representing Miller Pads and Paper at a variety of homeschooling conferences, the seed idea for the Draw and Write Through History series was born. Having had the opportunity to speak with a wide variety of homeschoolers regarding their educational needs, experienced homeschool mom Carylee Gressman teamed with Peggy Dick - an accomplished and talented illustrator - to create a series of resources allowing students to draw and write their way through history.

Creation Through Jonah is the first volume in a four-part series, covering the time from creation of the world (c. 6000-4000 B.C.) through Jonah (a contemporary of the first Olympics c. 760 B.C.) Biblical history is well-covered in this volume, as well as a variety of notable events from world history.

Divided into eight major periods: Creation, Noah's Ark/Ice Age, The Tower of Babel, Egypt: The Pyramid Age, China, Joseph/Moses, Trojan Horse/David, and Jonah - each features from one to four step-by-step `how-to-draw' art instructions and a cursive copywork passage. Written for children ages 8 and over, it can easily be adapted for younger students. A non-consumable book, the drawings and copywork is designed to be completed outside of the book, making it a rich resource for years to come.

Peggy Dick's step-by-step instructions are wonderfully easy to follow, with the new segments of each drawing displayed in a lighter brown. Helpful suggestions are given for shading, colouring, etc with full-colour, completed illustrations excuted in coloured pencils included for imitation. Some brief historical information is shared, and the provided copywork example summarizes the historical event from a Christian-worldview.

Art is my six-year-old's favourite subject, yet when Creation through Jonah arrived, her perfectionist tendencies kicked in. The quality of Dick's completed artwork seemed above her abilities and she was afraid she couldn't `measure up' in her own mind. However, when one of our homeschooling assignments required drawing a picture of Noah's Ark, our book came out and we sat down together to draw our pictures.

Having both produced some fairly realistic-looking Arks, we're both delighted with our results. I'm not at all artistic by nature, but after drawing a few projects from the book, I've been impressed by my results. My six-year-old also thinks the book is pretty neat after her successful drawing experience.

Easy to integrate with any existing history curriculum, we're using Draw and Write Through History with Mystery of History Volume 1. Because our course of study covers so much ground this year, Creation through Jonah will get us half-way there, it looks like Greece and Rome would carry us the rest of the way with some left over for next year.

Whether used from front to back, eclectically, or as a source of inspiration for notebooking pages, or other projects; Creation through Jonah makes an excellent history and art supplement, as well as a wonderful gift for children who've been bit by the drawing bug.

I was given the opportunity on my blog (thecreativesideofsteph DOT blogspot DOT com) to review Draw and Write Through History: Creation Through Jonah.

Carylee's Draw and Write series is geared for ages 8 and up, but if your younger child is interested in art and drawing, you can certainly adapt! Although this book was out of my daughter's ability, I can't wait until she CAN use it!

The Draw and Write series is the perfect supplement for your homeschooling curriculum. These books would even be wonderful tools for summer break, because drawing is FUN!

The book begins with an introduction from Professor Doodle who tells each story and gives the child drawing tips and tricks.

Currently, there are four books in the Draw and Write Through History series. I was sent "Creation Through Jonah," which after Professor Doodle's instruction to review our cursive letters, begins with Day 3 of Creation - plants.

Professor Doodle guides the child, step by step, in drawing realistic plants and trees. He then shows the child how to draw a dinosaur and man. At the end of the section, a page of cursive copywork is given, summarizing the history lesson.

After Creation, and besides the images on the cover, you will find instruction on drawing everything from the ark to mummies to Joseph to Jonah's whale.

I was thoroughly impressed with the entire book. It was fun! The drawings were based on simple stick figures or sketches and then the child is shown how to fill it out, so that his drawing is realistic.

I really wish I'd had something like this when I was in school!

I think when my little boy is ready for school, I'll have to get book four, the Pilgrims, Pirates, and Patriots edition!

The other two titles in the Draw and Write series are Greece and Rome and The Vikings, The Middle Ages, and The Renaissance. If you've got a child with an artistic bent (and even if you don't!), I think she would love the Draw and Write Through History books!

This book is well worth checking out for adding to your ancient history curriculum. It combines history and art, handwriting and copywork, all in a fun, colorful layout. It will satisfy your 8-12 year olds desire to draw and give them some simple drawing lessons. My 10 year old daughter used this book on her own and enjoyed being able to draw the people in this book.

My oldest daughter was excited when I recieved this to review through Mama Buzz and was provided by Draw and Write Through History and began drawing from it immediately. The first drawing she did was of the Sphinx and the other was the silkworm moth. Unfortunately, she was so excited her original drawings she gave away to her friends - so I had her draw me some more. In her words "I really like!", a girl of few words. She enjoys going through the book to think of new pictures to draw. Creation Through Jonah includes plants, dinosaur, people, Noah's ark, Tower of Babel, frogs and many more historical people or items to be drawn. The illustrations are done by Peggy Dick and well done and are easy to follow in her step by step lessons. I would definitely suggest this for anyone who would like a fun way to supplement their favorite history curriculum.

If you have a budding artist in your midst you are not going to want to miss a workbook called Draw and Write Through History. We were given the chance to take a look at this fantastic workbook, and my 8 yr old fell in love! There are actually four different workbooks in the series, all written by Carylee Gressman and illustrated by Peggy Dick. We received the Creation Through Jonah workbook. Not only does it play on a child's love of drawing and coloring, but it creates opportunities to practice their handwriting as well as interjecting history lessons along the way.

The lessons are in chronological order through history, including World and Biblical History. I really liked this! It was very interesting for my 8 yr old to learn facts like that Jonah lived around the same time as the first Olympics. The workbooks are geared toward ages 8 and older, but could be adapted for younger children. Each set of lessons include history information coupled with a step-by-step drawing lesson. After each section there is a page of cursive handwriting to be copied about that time period.

These workbooks would be a fun addition to any curriculum as well as a great gift for kids like my 8 yr old who are avid artists. We've been amazed at the artwork that has come from my 8 yr old as a result of working through this workbook.

I am not good at drawing, but my son wanted me to draw with him while he was learning to draw from the book. I actually think my skill has improved since sitting with him and following the book. It makes it easier since they do each drawing in steps instead of as a whole.

After each drawing lesson there is a page of copywork about that time period. This makes it a good add-on to any curriculum since it has historical facts, cursive practice, and includes art. It would be great for any child, not just homeschoolers.

You can see my full review at[...]

A great series for homeschools or as a supplement to regular school.

Each of the 5 sections has several pictures to draw with step by step instructions. Then a page of cursive copy work. The pictures are very detailed and beautiful. The copy work is a short historical report.
The books are written by a pastor's wife and the copy work has some Christian references. Other books in the series include biblical history.

Works great with the classical approach, Well Trained Mind, unit study, Story of the World, History Odyssey and Charlotte Mason methods as well as any other methods where you want to combine history, handwriting, and art. This is more advanced drawing than the, also awsome, Draw Write Now, Book 1: On the Farm-Kids and Critters-Storybook Characters (Draw-Write-Now) series and is a perfect continuation to it.

This has a bibliography in the back so you could easily make a history unit or unit study out of it.

Sections include: Creation, Noah's Ark/Ice Ace, The Tower of Babel, Egypt, China, Joseph/Moses, Trojan Horse/David , and Jonah Color illustrations. 60+ pages.

This is from what I would call a Christian creationist perspective. If this is not your world view then this book is not for you!

More books in the series are:

Draw and Write Through History (Creation through Jonah, Volume 1)
Draw and Write Through History: Greece and Rome (#2)
The Vikings, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance
The World of the 1800's
The 20th Century